Calabar Education Trust Fund proposed: Alumni urge 2% taxes from hotels, firms, and LGAs to fund salaries and infrastructure at UNICROSS

The Cross River State University Alumni Association has urged the Cross River State Government to establish an Education Trust Fund (ETF) financed through taxes on hotels, local government areas, and companies operating within the university’s jurisdiction to ensure regular payment of staff salaries and support infrastructure development.

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Dr Peter Iyali, the association’s national president, stated that last week’s complete shutdown of the university over unpaid January salaries underscores the urgent need for sustainable financing.

He recommended dedicating 2% of profits after tax from companies, 2% education tax from hotel guests, 2% statutory state allocations, and 5% of local government allocations to the Education Trust Fund.

The Alumni Association also advocated for the state government to formally engage UNICROSS for consultancy services in selected engineering and creative projects and integrate consistent infrastructure development into the annual budget.

It further called for a state-wide education summit to design long-term, innovative strategies for funding tertiary education, noting the university’s historical origins from a similar initiative under former Governor Donald Duke.

Beyond financial reforms, the body raised concerns over campus security, including attacks on students and staff, vandalism, and land encroachment.

It urged perimeter fencing of the university and the establishment of a dedicated police station on campus.

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Reaffirming the centrality of education to sustainable development, the Alumni Association stressed that the persistent salary delays result from inadequate state funding and urged immediate adoption of a sustainable financing model to prevent recurring crises.