Ondo Poly Workers Disrupt Activities Over Unpaid Minimum Wage

Employees of the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, a state-owned institution in Owo, Ondo State, have brought academic functions to a standstill as part of their protest against unpaid minimum wage adjustments.

On Monday, the workers took to the streets to voice their grievances, citing the state government's alleged refusal to implement the N70,000 national minimum wage, which was approved by the federal government. The protest also involved blocking the main entrance to the polytechnic.

The industrial action was initiated by the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP) and received support from the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP).

Saka Nurudeen, the Chairman of SSANIP at the institution, expressed deep dissatisfaction with what he described as years of neglect by successive Ondo State administrations towards the polytechnic.

"It has become common knowledge that staff members of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, are treated as second-class citizens within Ondo State," Nurudeen stated.

He added, "While other state employees are receiving the new minimum wage, our members remain stuck with N18,000, a salary that has been insufficient since 2019."

Nurudeen further noted that when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed the new national minimum wage into law in 2024, Ondo State began payments in October of that year but deliberately excluded polytechnic workers.

"For over 15 months, other workers in Ondo State have been paid the new wage, yet the staff of this institution have been systematically overlooked. Numerous appeals from campus unions have proven futile. This situation is both unjust and unacceptable," he elaborated.

The union leader characterized the N18,000 minimum wage as "grossly inadequate" given the current high inflation and challenging economic conditions.

"Our members struggle to provide for their families. Many face ridicule in their communities, and landlords consider them financially unstable. This is a profound embarrassment for individuals serving in a higher learning institution," Mr. Nurudeen explained.

He emphasized, "Ondo State belongs to all its citizens. We cannot stand by and watch our members be denied their rightful entitlements while others in the same state benefit from theirs."

The protesters asserted that their demonstration would remain peaceful but resolute until their demands are met by the polytechnic management and the state government.

Arikawe Ade, the Chairman of ASUP, appealed to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for urgent intervention in the matter.

"We implore the governor to address this issue promptly and rectify this injustice. The minimum wage is a legal requirement, not a privilege. Our members deserve to be treated equitably alongside other state employees," Mr. Ade stated.

The unions accused the state government of making repeated unfulfilled promises, leading to continued hardship for the workers.

In a joint statement, the SSANIP Executive Committee reiterated that the protest aimed to compel the relevant authorities to implement the new minimum wage for the institution's staff without delay.

"Unity ensures victory. Our cause is just, and we will persist until justice prevails," the statement concluded.

Responding to the protest, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Igbekele Ajibefun, assured that the workers' concerns would be addressed.

"We have met with them, heard their complaints and demands," he stated.

"We reached an agreement that the institution's gates should be opened to allow for academic and administrative activities.

"I urged them to ensure peace prevails and to allow us to convey their demands to Mr Governor. Their grievances will be thoroughly examined and resolved in the near future."

Last year, other state-run tertiary institutions engaged in extended strike actions over similar issues.

Subsequently, the government reached a resolution with the unions, committing to increase financial allocations to these institutions to enable them to pay the adjusted minimum wage.