Key Points

• UniCal evicts staff accused of renting out university quarters.

• Management says move will promote accountability and staff welfare.

• Affected staff allege abuse of power and property destruction.

The University of Calabar (UniCal) has evicted several senior staff from its residential quarters after uncovering widespread cases of rent racketeering and unethical use of school property.

Speaking with reporters in Calabar on Tuesday, the university’s spokesperson, Mr. Eyo Effiong, said the governing council ordered the eviction following evidence that some staff had been subletting the Boys’ Quarters (BQs) to students and outsiders for personal profit.

Eviction targets staff who rented out university property

Effiong explained that affected staff received official letters notifying them of the revocation of their housing allocations and were given until April 30, 2025, to vacate the premises.

He said investigations revealed that some staff were collecting between ₦80,000 and ₦350,000 annually from students and outsiders, while paying the university far less in official rent.

“This practice is unethical and embarrassing to the university community,” Effiong said. “Some of the illegal tenants also posed security risks to the campus.”

He added that all reclaimed apartments would be reallocated to junior staff through the university’s housing department to promote transparency and ensure that rent is properly deducted from salaries.

Affected staff cry foul, allege abuse of power

However, the decision has sparked outrage among some senior staff members, who accused the university management of high-handedness and abuse of power.

One affected staff member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said security personnel and staff from the Security and Technical (SAT) Services Department forcibly broke into several quarters and threw out belongings of staff, including those away on sabbatical or official assignments.

“If I’m paying for the main house, I should have the right to use the BQ for my dependents, house-helps, or relatives,” he said.

“Some colleagues returned to find their doors broken and property dumped outside. This is not acceptable in a university environment.”

UniCal defends action as part of ethical reform

Another senior academic, Mr. Jacob Emmanuel, described the eviction as demeaning and disrespectful to senior members of the university community.

“Are they saying our house-helps should now sleep in our bedrooms because the BQs have been seized?” he asked, warning that the situation could cause unrest if not resolved peacefully.

In response, Effiong maintained that the decision was in line with the governing council’s commitment to restoring discipline and order within the university system.

“This policy affects all staff who misused the facility, regardless of their position. Those with genuine grievances can appeal directly to the council,” he said.

The eviction, he added, forms part of UniCal’s ongoing internal reforms aimed at curbing corruption, improving staff welfare, and ensuring that resources are allocated fairly across all levels of personnel.