August 26, 2026
Cross River State Commissioner for Education, Sen. Prof. Stephen Odey, Esq., has urged the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASU), University of Education and Entrepreneurship (UEE) Akamkpa Chapter, to suspend its planned strike action, assuring the union of government’s commitment to addressing its concerns.
Professor Odey urged the Union when he received the UEE management team and ASU-UEE executives, led by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Patrick Asuquo, in his office in Calabar.
The Commissioner, who disclosed that he cut short his participation in the ongoing 66th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Port Harcourt to attend to the matter, said issues concerning the education sector remained a priority to him. He commended the Vice Chancellor and management for their proactive efforts in building the young University, particularly in securing accreditation for its academic programmes, and reaffirmed his support for the institution.
He urged to ASU-UEE to suspend its strike notice and allow room for dialogue and intervention, noting that industrial action could disrupt academic activities and negatively affect the image of the new university.
The Commissioner also highlighted Governor Otu’s commitment to the development of the institution, describing the Governor as passionate about the university and assuring the union that he would personally engage the relevant authorities to ensure the implementation of approved decisions.
The Vice Chancellor, Professor Patrick Asuquo, appreciated the Commissioner for interrupting his engagement outside the state to meet with the union, while the ASU-UEE leadership acknowledged his intervention and appealed for continued support towards resolving the outstanding issues. The meeting ended with the Commissioner urging the union to give government a short window to intervene, assuring them that he would take up the matter with the appropriate authorities and work towards a resolution.