By BANNERNEWS Reporter
The quadrennial congress and election of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) at the University of Calabar were disrupted on Thursday after armed men reportedly invaded the venue, forcing a halt to proceedings.
National officers of the union, led by Deputy National President, Comrade Leku Ador, were in Calabar to supervise the exercise, which is held every four years to review the performance of branch executives and elect new officers.
Other members of the delegation included National Vice-President (South-South), Comrade Cheta Azuma; National Treasurer, Comrade Uchenna Nwokeji; and National Trustee, Comrade Monday Izu. The officials had earlier paid a courtesy visit to Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Offiong Offiong, to formally notify the university management of their presence and mission.
University sources said the Vice-Chancellor was unavailable at the time and was represented by a Deputy Vice-Chancellor. The union delegation was reportedly informed that although approval had been granted for the congress, clearance for the venue was still under consideration due to security concerns.
According to SSANU officials, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor cited unspecified intelligence reports suggesting the possibility of disruption and requested the national officers to sign an undertaking accepting responsibility for any security incidents. The union leaders declined the request and proceeded to the congress venue.
Union members had already assembled when the national officers arrived, and the gathering began peacefully. However, the meeting was interrupted when armed men entered the venue and instructed members to stop the exercise, citing security reasons.
The incident caused panic among some members, although no injuries were reported. Union officials said they continued consultations and resolved to extend the tenure of the existing executive by three months, in line with constitutional provisions, pending a fresh election.
SSANU officials expressed concern over the disruption and called for an environment that allows unions to conduct their internal processes without hindrance. They maintained that the union remained committed to due process and peaceful engagement.
Reacting to the incident, the university’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Eyo Effiong, denied allegations that armed thugs were deployed to disrupt the congress. He said those present were regular university security personnel assigned to maintain order and ensure safety on campus.
The development has drawn attention to labour-management relations within the institution, with observers calling for dialogue between university authorities and union leaders to prevent further tension and ensure stability in the academic environment.
