YPP Criticizes Frequent Leadership Changes at UNICROSS, Calls for Stability
The Young Progressives Party (YPP) in Cross River State has expressed concern over the recent appointment of a new acting Vice-Chancellor for the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS). Governor Bassey Otu’s decision to replace Prof. Austine Angba with Prof. Francisca Bassey as the new acting Vice-Chancellor, alongside the appointment of Ntufam Fidelis Ugbo as Pro-Chancellor, has sparked controversy, with the party arguing that the frequent leadership changes at the institution undermine its academic progress and stability.
In a statement signed by the party’s chairman, Anthony Bissong Attah, titled “UNICROSS Again: Another Step in the Wrong Direction,” the YPP highlighted that the university’s leadership instability – with more than five Vice-Chancellors in the last five years – has left the institution in a state of uncertainty, harming its academic environment.
“The constant rotation of Vice-Chancellors over the years has led to greater instability, and with Prof. Angba’s term cut short, it seems the institution is stuck in an endless cycle of uncertainty,” the statement reads. The YPP also questioned the rationale behind removing Prof. Angba, who was appointed only a few months ago, before his term was expected to end later this year. The party suggested that allowing him to complete his tenure would have offered the university a degree of administrative and academic continuity.
The statement further raised concerns over how long Prof. Francisca Bassey would serve as acting Vice-Chancellor before a substantive appointment is made, wondering if the authorities were intentionally delaying the appointment of a permanent VC.
“We welcome Prof. Bassey but believe that Prof. Angba should have been allowed to finish his tenure while the university’s governing council searched for a permanent replacement,” the YPP noted. “Running a university requires more than temporary fixes; it requires a commitment to stability and long-term planning.”
The YPP also questioned why Prof. Angba had not been reinstated if there were no allegations of misconduct, implying that the university’s leadership changes were more politically motivated than academically driven.
Meanwhile, the Alumni Association of UNICROSS initially echoed similar concerns over the constant appointment of acting Vice-Chancellors. However, the association later explained that the latest appointment of Prof. Bassey was a legal necessity to comply with the UNICROSS Establishment Law.
In a separate statement, Dr. Peter Iyali, the national president of the Alumni Association, acknowledged the previous concerns but clarified the legal requirements that led to the appointment. Dr. Iyali explained that Section 3(3), Article 2a of the UNICROSS Establishment Law mandates the university to advertise the Vice-Chancellor position three months before the appointment, with the advertisement running for six weeks.
“As the outgoing acting VC had already served more than four months, the Governor had no choice but to appoint another acting Vice-Chancellor to comply with the law,” Dr. Iyali said. “The process for appointing a permanent VC could not have been completed in time, and the Governor’s decision was a necessary step to avoid legal issues for the university.”
Dr. Iyali concluded that any attempt to bypass the legal process would have led to avoidable disputes, reinforcing that the Governor’s actions were in line with the university’s legal framework.
As the debate continues, the leadership changes at UNICROSS remain a point of contention, with both political and legal perspectives shaping the ongoing conversation about the university’s future.
