Lecturers, chiefs boycott UB matriculation

Lecturers of the University of Buea Saturday, Nov. 1st, boycotted the twenty-first matriculation ceremony of the institution as lecturers began a 7-day industrial sit-in action November 3.

Close to 8000 freshmen were being admitted into the university during a ceremony presided by UB Vice-Chancellor, Nalova Lyonga and had as guest speaker, the emeritus Archbishop of Doula, Christian Cardinal Tumi.

The boycott by the academic staff of UB followed a nationwide strike in Cameroon called by the National Union of Teachers of Higher Education (SYNES). SYNES has called on all lecturers in all state universities to suspend academic activities from Monday November 3 to Saturday November 8.

The strike action was contained in a release from the office of the Secretary General, signed by the S.G, Professor Joseph Lebel Tamesse, following a meeting held on October 30 to seek possible ways for government to pay the third quarter of the Research Modernization Allowance (RMA) which was due by September 30.

The members have denounced the lackluster attitude of government towards dialogue over the issue.

The release states that lectures in all Cameroon universities will only resume after all lecturers must have received the Research Modernization Allowance. Lecturers of the University of Buea recently embarked on a one-week warning strike to demand the Research Modernization Allowance.

After the strike that was led by SYNES-UB chapter president, Dr. James Arrey Abangma, the UB Vice-Chancellor, Nalova Lyonga said the grievances of the lecturers can only be addressed by the minister of Higher Education, prof. Jacques Fame Ndongo.