Gown fee controversy forces UNICROSS to suspend matriculation

The University of Cross River State (UNICROSS) has postponed its 24th matriculation ceremony indefinitely following rising tension on campus over the cost of matriculation gowns and ongoing staff protests.

The tension was triggered after the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Francisca Bassey, approved a N10,000 fee for the rental of academic gowns for the two-hour matriculation ceremony. Students have kicked against the decision, describing the amount as excessive compared to the N2,000 charged in previous years.

The students also alleged that the university management recently increased school fees by about 100 per cent, alongside other charges, which they claim have placed an undue financial burden on them.

The situation was further compounded by an ongoing protest by the Joint Action Congress (JAC) of the university’s three non-teaching staff unions, creating an atmosphere of unrest that made the conduct of the ceremony untenable.

In a circular dated January 26, 2026, the university’s Registrar, Dr Catherine Osai, announced the postponement of the matriculation ceremony, citing the staff protest and the tension arising from the increased cost of academic gowns and school fees.

According to the circular, the matriculation for the 2025/2026 academic session, earlier scheduled for Thursday, January 29, 2026, at the Calabar Campus, and Friday, January 30, 2026, at the Ogoja and Okuku Campuses, has been postponed indefinitely.

“The postponement is sequel to the ongoing protest by the Joint Action Congress (JAC) of the three non-teaching unions of the University, as well as the tension generated by the high cost of academic gowns and the increase in school fees,” the circular stated.

The Registrar expressed regret over any inconvenience the postponement may cause to students, staff and the general public.