By Emma Una

The University of Cross River State, Unicross, has suspended its 24th matriculation ceremony following rising tension in the school, occasioned by the high cost of matriculation gowns.

The Vice Chancellor, Professor Francisca Bassey, pegged the cost for renting the academic gown for the two-hour ceremony at ten thousand naira, which the students say “it is way too high against the two thousand naira which used to be the cost for renting the gown in previous years”.

The students complained that the Vice Chancellor recently hiked the school fees by one hundred percent, and other sundry charges, which have turned the school into a fortress for extortion”.

The rising tension, along with the protest by the Joint Action Congress, JAC, of the three non-teaching staff of the university, made the postponement unavoidable.

In a circular dated January 26, 2026, the Registrar of the school, Dr Catherine Osai, said the postponement of the matriculation ceremony is due to the Joint Action Congress (JAC) protest, as well as the tension generated by the high cost of academic gowns and the increase in school fees.

“This is to inform all staff, students, and the general public that the 24th Matriculation Ceremony of the University of Cross River State, for the 2025/2026 academic session, earlier scheduled for Thursday, January 29, 2026, in Calabar Campus and Friday, January 30, 2026, in Ogoja and Okuku Campuses, has been postponed indefinitely.”

The postponement, Dr Osai stated, “is sequel to the ongoing protest by the Joint Action Congress JAC), of the three non-teaching Unions of the University,” the circular stated.

We sincerely regret any inconveniences this postponement may cause to all concerned,” the circular concluded.