Tension rose in Calabar on Monday as non-teaching staff of the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS) and pensioners staged a peaceful protest over the non-payment of pension arrears and gratuities owed to retired university workers.
The protesters, under the umbrella of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) — which includes the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) — marched from the UNICROSS campus in Calabar South to the Accountant-General’s office in Calabar Municipality.
Chanting solidarity songs and carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Pay our pension arrears now!”, “Our retirees are dying in poverty!” and “We deserve better treatment!”, the workers called on the state government to immediately clear outstanding entitlements owed to retirees.
The protest took a dramatic turn when some pensioners expressed frustration over the prolonged delay in payment, warning that if any of their colleagues die while waiting for their entitlements, their corpses would be deposited at the Accountant-General’s office.
Speaking during the protest, Comrade Odong Bassey Ekeh, Chairman of NASU and Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Cross River State, said the unions were left with no choice but to take to the streets after several appeals to the state government failed to yield results.
“Our grievance is that a system exists to compute, audit, and pay pensions, yet no payment has been made since June this year,” Ekeh lamented. “We are not asking for favours; we are demanding our rights. The government funds the university and must ensure retirees receive their pensions and gratuities without further delay.”
He added that many retired university workers are living in hardship because of unpaid benefits, describing their situation as “unbearable and unfair.”
“These retirees served the state diligently for years. They deserve to live their retirement in peace, not in hunger and frustration,” he said.
The Joint Action Committee urged the Cross River State Government to prioritize the welfare of university workers, saying the continued delay in pension payments was eroding trust in the system.
A representative of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Comrade Iniobong Etim, said the non-payment of arrears had caused unnecessary hardship for families.
“Some of our members have fallen sick, others can no longer afford basic needs. It is heartbreaking that after giving their best years to public service, they are left to suffer,” Etim said.
He appealed to Governor Bassey Otu to intervene personally and ensure that funds are released for the payment of all outstanding pension liabilities.
“We know the governor has shown commitment to workers’ welfare since assuming office. We urge him to look into this matter urgently so that our retirees can live in dignity,” he added.
The protest by UNICROSS workers is the latest in a series of demonstrations by pensioners and labour unions across Cross River State over unpaid gratuities and pensions.
Although the state government recently announced the release of ₦10 billion to offset pension arrears dating back to 2013, many retirees claim they have not received any payment.
Labour leaders say that while the government’s gesture was commendable, the funds released covered only a portion of outstanding obligations, leaving several months of unpaid benefits still pending.
Cross River, like many Nigerian states, has struggled with pension payments due to dwindling revenues, an expanding wage bill, and years of poor financial planning.
The Cross River State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has thrown its weight behind the protest, describing the treatment of pensioners as “inhumane and unacceptable.”
In a statement released after the protest, the NLC said it would continue to support the unions’ demand until the state government fulfils its obligations to workers and retirees.
“The delay in payment of pensions has led to untold hardship, sickness, and even death among retirees. The government must act now to restore hope and dignity to our pensioners,” the statement read.
The NLC also warned that it would consider a statewide industrial action if the government fails to address the matter within a reasonable time.
However, a source at the Accountant-General’s office, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told reporters that the government was aware of the workers’ grievances and that efforts were being made to resolve the issue.
“The government is not ignoring them. There are financial constraints, but discussions are ongoing to address the arrears as soon as possible,” the source said.
For now, the UNICROSS non-teaching staff and pensioners say they will continue to press for action until the arrears are cleared.
They also urged the government to establish a permanent structure for the regular payment of pensions to prevent future delays.
