Unical VC Explains Delay In Payment Of Staff Salary Shortfalls

Prof Zana Akpgau, Unical VC 

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, (Unical), Prof Zana Akpagu has explained that his efforts to address the shortfalls in staff salaries has suffered a huge setback for the third time as the Central Bank of Nigeria has returned payment vouchers due to duplication of account details by staff.

Akpagu who stated this while addressing staff on the efforts of his administration to clear the shortfalls areas disclosed that the University bursar has traced the problem to some staff who operate joint account with their spouses.

He assured that those concerned have been contacted even as he said that the bursar was working had to address the issue.

According to him, "Good morning dear colleagues. For the third time, our shortfall arrears payment vouchers were returned from CBN for "detected discrepancies", according AG's office. The auditors queried "duplicated account details by staff". The bursar traced the "fault" to some of our colleagues who operate "joint" accounts with their spouses. Those concerned have been contacted and bursar is staying back to fix things.

He recalled that "Last time in May, our vouchers were withdrawn on account of a petition by Dr Akintunde. We would have been paid then".

He assured that "There is hope! Just so that we are better informed".

While refuting the claims that the issue of salary shortfalls was peculiar to Unical, he maintained that it was a national problem but promised to work relevantlessly to ensure the issue is resolved.