Why We Demolished NASU Secretariat – UNICAL Management

By Elijah Ugani

The management of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) has described its recent demolition of the Non Academic Staff Union (NASU) secretariat of the institution as an action taken in the best interest of the students.

The Director of Academic Planning, Dr. Patrick Egaga who made this known while speaking with CrossRiverWatch pointed out that there were over 100 tenants occupying the facility, each with a generator causing noise pollution and emitting excessive carbon(II)oxide during lecture periods which made listening to lectures difficult for students.

“I have been there myself and I saw how lecturers come out of lecture halls sweating because of the noise from the generators which in turn causes heat, the students don’t even hear well, this decision to demolish the structure is to the best interest of the students. As a confirmation, the students were jubilating in support of the administration”, Egaga said.

He further revealed the action was only an implementation of the council’s decision of 2011 by the current administration led by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Zana Akpagu whom he said “Is very committed to the welfare of students. “This is a man who has a tripod agenda, students, students and students, and he does not want to see students suffer being the first Malabite to be appointed Vice-Chancellor of the institution”.

Also, Egaga stressed that “the place had become a security threat to the University as several illicit businesses were done there including selling of alcoholic drinks that are not allowed in the university.

“The noise generated in that place has always hampered accreditation of some programs, each time our assessors come in, they had always cautioned against the running of that place, as I speak to you, there is no document showing anywhere in the University that the building is owned by NASU”.

On the ownership of the facility, he said that, “That building was built by the contractors who handled the construction of the new science lecture theatre 1-5 and after completion, they left the place and NASU desirous of a secretariat packed in and claimed ownership”.