ASUU Strike: Lecturers evicted from official residence in prestigious Nigerian university

Femi Fabunmi

Security officers at the University of Calabar (UNICAL) have forcefully removed some lecturers and senior staff from their campus apartments while the nationwide ASUU strike continues.
Several affected staff members accused the university management of abusing power.

However, the management said the decision was taken by the school’s Governing Council.

One of the affected lecturers, who spoke anonymously, said security personnel broke into the Boys’ Quarters of their residences and threw out belongings, even of those who were away on sabbatical or official duty.

“Some of our colleagues returned to find their doors broken and their belongings outside.

This is unacceptable in a university environment,” he said.
Another lecturer, Dr. Benard, described the eviction as harsh and humiliating.

He explained that the Boys’ Quarters were originally built to house domestic workers and dependents of senior staff, but management had recently reassigned them to junior staff.

He asked, “Is management saying our house helps should now stay in our bedrooms because the BQs have been taken over?”

Some senior staff warned that the action could cause unrest on campus if not properly handled.

The university, however, defended its decision, saying it followed due process and was meant to solve accommodation shortages for junior staff and stop unethical practices.

UNICAL’s Head of Public Relations, Mr. Eyo Effiong, said investigations showed that many of the Boys’ Quarters had been rented out to students and outsiders for between ₦80,000 and ₦350,000 per year.

He added that the Governing Council instructed all staff to vacate the quarters after official notices were issued.

“Council decided that staff should give up their Boys’ Quarters. Letters were sent asking occupants to move out on or before April 30, 2025,” Effiong said.

As the controversy continues, many are calling on the education authorities to step in and mediate between the affected staff and the university management to prevent further unrest on campus.