Ikpeme also appealed to labour unions to prioritise dialogue in resolving industrial disputes while urging governments to honour agreements and address workers’ welfare promptly to build lasting trust.
By TheInvestigator
The Pioneer Director General of the Greater Calabar City Development Authority and Public Affairs Commentator, Dr Kingsley Ikpeme, has commended Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Edet Otu, for his intervention that led to the suspension of the two-month industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Cross River State (UNICROSS) branch.
In a statement issued following the suspension of the strike on July 21, 2026, Ikpeme described the Governor’s role in resolving the impasse as a demonstration of responsive and statesmanlike leadership, noting that the intervention reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to educational stability in the state.
He said the suspension of the industrial action, which followed a series of engagements between the state government and ASUU leadership, had averted further disruption of the 2025/2026 academic calendar and restored hope to thousands of students and their families.
Ikpeme observed that prolonged strikes in tertiary institutions have far-reaching consequences, including delayed graduation, disruption of academic activities, stalled research, financial hardship for parents and guardians, and threats to institutional accreditation and reputation.
According to him, industrial actions also undermine human capital development and increase the risk of youth restiveness, thereby slowing the state’s drive towards a knowledge-based economy.
While acknowledging that workers have a constitutional right to embark on industrial action, Ikpeme stressed that strikes should remain a measure of last resort after all avenues for dialogue and negotiation have been exhausted.
He listed internal negotiations, meetings with university management, mediation by governing councils, engagements with government and appeals to stakeholders as dispute-resolution mechanisms that should precede industrial action.
The former Greater Calabar City Development Authority boss praised Governor Otu for choosing dialogue over confrontation, describing his approach as proactive, empathetic and reflective of a strong commitment to the education sector.
He said the Governor’s intervention had preserved the integrity of UNICROSS and safeguarded the future of thousands of students.
Ikpeme also appealed to labour unions to prioritise dialogue in resolving industrial disputes while urging governments to honour agreements and address workers’ welfare promptly to build lasting trust.
He expressed appreciation to Governor Otu for what he described as his wisdom, patience and dedication to peaceful conflict resolution, expressing optimism that the intervention would usher in a new era of industrial harmony in Cross River State’s tertiary institutions.
