By Jonathan Ugbal
The management of the Cross River University of Technology (CRUTECH), may have been constrained to take extra measures to forestall a planned strike by lecturers who are angry that their salaries are being delayed.
CrossRiverWatch reported that the teachers had concluded plans to shut down the University from yesterday (Wednesday) and proceed on strike following failure of the management to pay their July and August 2018 salary.
And, a management source said following a meeting with the Chairman of the Varsity’s branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Dr. Emmanuel Etta, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Anthony Owan-Enoh met with the management of Zenith Bank plc who provided a loan for the institution to pay the July salaries.
Briefing the ASUU congress, the Zenith bank delegation said that staff whose salary accounts are domiciled with them will be receiving their salaries first.
“It was agreed that staff will be credited on the 25th of every month but the major thing is that they said they can allow staff to get salary advances when the state is yet to issue the management a cheque,” the source said.
CrossRiverWatch has made requests for responses from both the branch Chairman of ASUU and the school management.
But a very reliable source in ASUU who was privy to the congress where the planned action was suspended told CrossRiverWatch that: “Staff started receiving alert for July salary yesterday. Those who couldn’t receive yesterday may receive today, depending on their banks.
The source added that: “ASUU Chairman informed lecturers at Congress that the University has collected a loan to assist in prompt payment of salaries.
“He (ASUU Chairman), also mentioned that August salary may be paid within the next one week.
“Apparently, that development calmed frayed nerves.”
It will be recalled that CrossRiverWatch had reported that the institution’s wage bill currently stands at about NGN245 billion while the subvention from the state stands at NGN215 million.
The increase in wage bill is said to be due to the new staff employed by the Vice Chancellor.
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