UNICROSS alumni file a lawsuit to dissolve the governing council

The University of Cross River Alumni Association has instructed its legal counsel to file a legal action in order to prevent the government from continuing to support the Governing Council of the university and its claims.

After Wednesday’s National Executive Council meeting, the association made this announcement in a communiqué. Governor Bassey Otu was urged to consider the council’s urgent dissolution in a communique signed by the association’s national secretary, Njang Ndoma, in Calabar on Thursday.

It claimed that by requesting “unnecessary meetings to draw sitting allowances for members to the detriment of staff welfare,” the council was putting pressure on the institution’s finances.

The alumni called on the governor to reconstitute the council, to appoint individuals familiar with the university system. It further added that for almost four years, the council attracted zero funds and projects to the university.

The alumni reaffirmed its support for the efforts of the governor to reposition the institution for better service delivery. Insisting on the supremacy of the law establishing the university, the body stated that organs of the institution, including the Governing Council, should respect the laws at all times.

The communiqué stated, “The council as presently constituted, is incapable, incompetent of doing its work and is not serving the interest of the university.

Since the inauguration of the council on June 6, 2020, the council has attracted nothing to the university; rather, it has been putting pressure on the finances of the university by calling unnecessary sittings to draw allowances to enrich members.”

It said if reconstituted, the new council “must have capacity to attract funds, projects, and to formulate policies for smooth implementation of the “People’s First Agenda” mantra of the governor for the institution.”

The alumni also called on Mr Otu to investigate activities of the council members relating to contract approvals, execution and the resources expended in holding the “unnecessary frequent sittings.”