Unical evicts senior staff from BQs citing unethical subletting to students and outsiders; affected staff describe action as high-hand
Unical evicts senior staff from BQs, citing unethical practices including unauthorised subletting to students and non-staff, in a controversial move that has sparked tension within the university community.
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The action, led by the Security and Technical (SAT) Services Department of the University of Calabar (Unical), involved forceful entry into some staff quarters. Belongings of affected staff—including those on sabbatical or official duties—were thrown out, according to eyewitness accounts.
One affected senior staff member, who requested anonymity, condemned the approach, stating, “Some of our colleagues returned to find their doors broken and personal items thrown outside. This is not acceptable in a university environment.”
He further argued that as long as staff pay rent on their official residences, they should be entitled to use their Boys’ Quarters (BQs) for dependents, domestic staff, or relatives.
Mr Jacob Emmanuel, another senior staff member, described the evictions as “high-handed and demeaning,” warning that it could lead to a breakdown of order within the academic community if not properly addressed.
“Is the management saying our house-helps should now sleep in our bedrooms because the BQs have been seized?” he queried.
However, Unical spokesperson Mr Eyo Effiong defended the university’s actions, stating that the governing council ordered the evictions after investigations revealed widespread abuse of the quarters.
Staff were allegedly collecting between ₦80,000 and ₦350,000 annually from students and outsiders, while remitting far less to the institution.
According to Effiong, letters of revocation were served to affected staff, with a deadline to vacate by 30 April 2025.
“The action is not targeted at rank or title. It affects any senior staff member found to have misused university property,” Effiong told journalists in Calabar on Tuesday.
He said the reclaimed BQs would be reallocated to junior staff through the university’s housing department, with proper rent deductions and oversight to ensure accountability.
Effiong also claimed that security threats were linked to some of the unauthorised occupants, making the clearance necessary.
While affected staff decry the method as undignified, the university insists the policy is crucial to maintain institutional ethics and proper use of public assets.
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Those with legitimate grievances, Effiong noted, are encouraged to approach the Governing Council, which approved the decision.
