The Vice-Chancellor of University of Calabar has condemned the actions of the non-academic staff of the university for beating a senior staff and locking the school entrances.
Academic activities at the University of Calabar, Cross Rivers State came to a halt on Friday as the non-academic staff of the university beseiged the university and locked the entrances in and out of the school.
The action was carried out by the local branch of the Joint Action Committee comprising Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, National Association of Academic Technologists and Non-Academic Staff Union.
Angry lecturers and students said the union members had by their action, behaved like illiterates.
Prof. James Epoke, Vice-Chancellor of the school also confirmed that the Chief Security Officer of the school was thoroughly flogged by the irate JAC members.
A member of JAC who do not want to be named said the protest was as a result of the non-payment of allowances, off duty allowances for security staff and overtime for a period of over 10 months.
When contacted, the Vice Chancellor of UNICAL, Prof. James Epoke, said it was wrong for the workers to take the laws into their hands by locking all entrances to the school.
Speaking on the grievances of the workers, Epoke said the institution released N15m on Monday to cater for some of the complaints of the workers.
For the earned allowances, Epoke said no Nigerian university worker had been paid, adding that the Federal Government was still collating the process of settling it.
He said, “The workers did not tell you that the school management paid N15m to them just on Monday here. Most of them that were qualified to receive it have got theirs. The process is gradual.
“For the earned allowances, no Nigerian university has paid it as the Federal Government is still collating the matter.
“It is mischievous for them to lock the gate. What has the gate got to do with their grievances? They even flogged my chief security officer this morning. I am calling on the police to intervene."