By Ike Uchechukwu, Calabar
CALABAR — Cross River State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Stephen Odey, has appealed to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Education and Entrepreneurship (UEE) chapter, to suspend its planned strike, assuring the union of swift government action on its outstanding demands.
Odey made the appeal on Wednesday in Calabar when he received the university’s management team and ASUU-UEE executives, led by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Patrick Asuquo, in his office.
The commissioner acknowledged the grievances of the union and appealed for more time for the government to address the issues.
“We understand your grievances, and we are not asking you to abandon your struggle; we are asking for a window to make things right,” Odey said.
He commended the university’s management for securing accreditation for its academic programmes, describing the achievement as evidence of “a university determined to grow despite its infancy.”
Odey urged the union to shelve the planned strike, warning that industrial action could disrupt academic activities and undermine the image of the institution, which is still developing.
He linked the appeal to Governor Bassey Edet Otu’s commitment to the university, assuring the union that the state government would not allow the institution’s progress to be hampered.
“The Governor is personally invested in the success of this institution, and we will not allow it to be set back,” he said.
The commissioner pledged to personally engage the relevant authorities to fast-track the implementation of approved decisions and address the union’s concerns.
“Give us a short window. I will carry your concerns to the appropriate quarters and ensure a lasting resolution,” he said.
Responding, Asuquo thanked the commissioner for prioritising the meeting despite prior engagements outside the state.
The ASUU-UEE leadership acknowledged the intervention and appealed for sustained government support to address the issues affecting the institution and its academic staff.
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