The University of Calabar chapter of Nigeria’s Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is embroiled in a major financial dispute after lecturers accused its former leadership of failing to remit more than ₦138 million (£80,000) in union contributions.
The allegations centre on Dr John Edor, who chaired the Unical ASUU chapter until recently. According to members, deductions made from lecturers’ salaries between 2019 and 2022 were never forwarded to the national body of the union. The alleged irregularities prompted ASUU’s national leadership to suspend the chapter.
A group of 10 lecturers, led by Dr John Inaku, has taken the matter to the National Industrial Court in Calabar, filing case number NICN/CA/44/2025 against ASUU (National), the Unical branch, and Dr Edor.
The complainants are seeking court orders to:
Prevent any further deductions from their salaries for dues already paid.
Compel ASUU to restore the rights and privileges of the suspended Unical chapter.
Force Dr Edor to provide a full account of the funds collected during his tenure.
Recover the unremitted ₦138,782,840.97 for transfer to the national union.
They are also claiming ₦150 million in damages from ASUU, ₦50 million in damages from Dr Edor, and ₦5 million in special damages, plus 21 per cent interest annually until the sums are settled.
Responding to the allegations, Dr Edor confirmed his awareness of the case but argued that the union has mechanisms for handling disputes internally.
“There are internal mechanisms and processes for resolving such matters within the union. I encourage aggrieved members to make use of them,” he said.
The legal battle highlights growing tensions within Nigeria’s higher education unions, raising questions about financial transparency and the accountability of union officials.
