The decision comes against the backdrop of growing unrest among students and staff, triggered largely by sharp increases in school-related charges. Central to the tension is the newly approved cost of ₦10,000 for renting academic gowns for the matriculation ceremony, a figure students say represents a steep jump from the ₦2,000 charged in previous years for the same two-hour event.
Students have also accused the university management of imposing a 100 per cent increase in tuition fees alongside other ancillary charges, developments they describe as excessive and burdensome. The situation has reportedly heightened dissatisfaction on campus, with some students characterising the institution as increasingly hostile to their welfare.
Compounding the situation is an ongoing protest by the Joint Action Congress (JAC), comprising the university’s three non-teaching staff unions. The industrial action, combined with student discontent, has significantly disrupted the academic environment, making the conduct of the matriculation ceremony impracticable.
In a circular dated January 26, 2026, the Registrar, Dr Catherine Osai, formally announced the postponement. According to the statement, the matriculation for the 2025/2026 academic session—earlier slated for January 29 at the Calabar Campus and January 30 at the Ogoja and Okuku Campuses—has been put on hold indefinitely.
Dr Osai explained that the decision was necessitated by the ongoing JAC protest and the tension generated by the recent increase in school fees and the cost of academic gowns. She expressed regret over the inconvenience the postponement may cause to students, staff, and members of the public, noting that a new date would be communicated in due course.
As of the time of filing this report, the university management has yet to announce any resolution to the issues raised by students and staff unions, leaving uncertainty over when normalcy will return to the campus.