The staff of the University of Cross River State, Unicross, exhibited jubilation on Wednesday following the sack of Professor Augustine Amgba, the Vice Chancellor of the University. The workers, representing three unions – the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), and Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) – were elated by the suspension of Professor Amgba by the Governing Council of the University.

James Igrison, the spokesman for the Joint Action Committee (JAC), which serves as the umbrella body for the university workers, expressed gratitude to Governor Bassey Otu for supporting the decision to remove the Vice Chancellor. According to Igrison, the workers had endured significant hardships, including five months of unpaid salaries and allowances. They had previously protested against Professor Amgba for his failure to pay their salaries, but he had remained obstinate.

In light of the economic challenges facing the country, Igrison condemned the Vice Chancellor's actions, highlighting the plight of workers earning meager salaries, some less than a hundred thousand naira. He emphasized the distress caused to workers, who faced evictions by landlords and harassment from money lenders due to the unpaid wages.

Despite the workers' demonstrations and the closure of the school gate in protest, Professor Amgba, who was reportedly in Europe during the workers' actions, failed to address their concerns upon his return. This indifference, according to Igrison, underscored the Vice Chancellor's disregard for the welfare of the university staff.

Following his suspension by the Governing Council on Monday, Professor Amgba was directed to hand over to Professor Stephen Oshang, the Vice Chancellor Academics of the Faculty of Agriculture. As of now, the State Government has not issued any statement regarding the Vice Chancellor's suspension.

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