Edith CHUKU
Vice Chancellor of the University of Cross River State UNICROSS, Prof. Francisca Bassey has addressed concerns over the recent review of school fees, explaining that the process followed due procedure, involving consultations with relevant stakeholders.
Bassey noted that the increase which was approved by the governor, Senator Bassey Otu, is inline with the general rise in the cost of goods and services nationwide.
The VC stated this during a stakeholders’ meeting held on Friday, at the New Cafeteria of Calabar Campus, where she described the contribution of every stakeholder as essential to the institution’s growth and well being.
She reiterated the need for all stakeholders in the university to work collaboratively in the overall interest of the institution.
“We would always work as a team. Where things go wrong is where there is no love and where there is no trust. Where every member of the family is concerned about the welfare of the family, things go well.
“When everybody is concerned about the other’s welfare, then the family can be whole, complete and healthy. Where the responsibility is left for one or two members of the family while others stay aloof, that is where there is a problem.
“We want this family to progress and succeed. That is why we have summoned this stakeholders meeting. It is a family meeting. Let’s work together, interact and bring solutions.”
Bassey announced that, “in response to the appeal by students leaders, tuition fees had been reduced from N58,000 (fifty eight thousand naira) to N55,000 (fifty five thousand naira), while all other charges in the approved school fees structure would remain unchanged.”
She further encouraged students to take advantage of the NELFUND loan scheme as an alternative means of funding their education.
The VC, who assured that all genuine concerns raised by the students leaders would receive prompt attention, thanked the governor for his support, particularly in 2025, and the university staff for their continued commitment to the institution’s best interests.
Earlier, the President of the Students’ Union Government SUG, Mr Ogar Favour, commended the VC and university management for convening the meeting and for their consistent prioritization of students’ welfare.
“It would be a thing of joy that in our era, this University becomes the best in Nigeria.”
While citing the provision of internet connectivity across all parts of UNICROSS as one of the notable improvements achieved under the current administration, he however, presented some challenges faced by students and appealed for prompt attention.
“We the Union Leaders are not against school fee increase. Neither are we antagonizing Management. As representatives of students, it has always been our delight to partner with the Management to make sure that we drive the University forward progressively. But we want to appeal that in as much as the University wants to move forward, please let the school fees be reduced so that we can effectively partner with the Institution to move it up to the apex.”
Also speaking at the meeting, the Chairman of the UNICROSS branch of ASUU, Dr. Patrick Ushie, assured students of staff support, stating: “Be sure that as our students, we are always there for you and we will always be standing in for you. Understand the Management and the Institution.”
The meeting brought together members of management, internal members of the governing council, deans, directors, heads of department, as well as the chairmen and secretaries of the UNICROSS branches of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Nigerian Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU).
Also in attendance were officials of the students’ union government (SUG) and various student leaders drawn from the university’s three campuses.
It was the first stakeholders’ meeting of 2026 and the only such gathering to be convened in several years. A major highlight of the meeting was a PowerPoint presentation on the purposeful and sustainable institutional growth recorded by UNICROSS in 2025 under the leadership of Prof. Francisca Bassey. The presentation was delivered by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Thomas Ojikpong.
