The staff personnel verification and audit exercise of the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS) has concluded at the Calabar Campus, with the exercise now set to move to the Ogoja Campus as part of the Cross River State Government’s ongoing drive to reposition the institution for greater efficiency, accountability and improved service delivery.
The six-day Calabar exercise, conducted by the Technical Committee on the Review of the Working Environment in UNICROSS, covered the verification of academic and non-teaching staff, a mop-up exercise for personnel who could not participate on their scheduled dates, as well as the inspection and verification of university projects. The exercise commenced on Monday, August 3, 2026, with academic staff and subsequently proceeded to non-teaching personnel.
On Tuesday, August 4, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Francisca Bassey, alongside members of the University Management, visited the verification venue and participated in the audit process with staff of their respective departments. In a light-hearted moment, members of the Technical Committee jokingly asked staff to identify the Vice Chancellor, prompting an enthusiastic response as staff joyfully recognised Prof. Bassey. She thereafter interacted with personnel and commended them for their punctuality, cooperation and orderly conduct.
The verification of non-teaching staff continued on Wednesday and Thursday, August 5 and 6, with the Technical Committee commending staff for their peaceful disposition and compliance with the requirements of the exercise. The Chairman of the Committee, Bishop (Prof.) U. U. Effiong, welcomed the Vice Chancellor and Management during their visits and expressed appreciation to staff for contributing to the smooth conduct of the process.
The exercise entered a major phase on Friday, August 7, with the verification of staff who were unable to participate earlier and the inspection of projects across the Calabar Campus. Prof. Bassey led members of the Technical Committee to various project sites, where ongoing and completed projects were inspected as part of the broader review of the University’s working environment and infrastructure.
Following the inspection, the Vice Chancellor commended members of the Technical Committee for their commitment, diligence and dedication, acknowledging the time and effort invested in ensuring a thorough and credible audit. The mop-up verification was extended to Saturday, August 8, to accommodate eligible staff who had genuine reasons for missing the earlier sessions.
The Technical Committee was constituted by Governor Bassey Edet Otu as part of his administration’s commitment to repositioning UNICROSS and strengthening accountability, efficiency and sustainable growth in the institution. Staff had earlier been directed to present themselves with relevant documents, with the Committee warning that failure to participate could result in a recommendation for suspension from the payroll pending successful verification.
The recommendations arising from the exercise are expected to guide the State Government and University Management in implementing further reforms aimed at strengthening UNICROSS and improving service delivery. The exercise now moves to the Ogoja Campus on Monday, August 10, where academic and non-academic staff will undergo verification, followed by the Okuku Campus on Tuesday, August 11.
The final mop-up exercise and projects verification for the Ogoja and Okuku campuses will take place on Wednesday, August 12. The University expressed optimism that the audit will contribute significantly to its ongoing repositioning, while providing a stronger foundation for efficiency, accountability, excellence and improved service delivery across its campuses.
By Kingsley Agim
