Ondo Moves Against Striking Poly Workers: Bans Union Activities, Suspends Leaders, To Implement No Work No Pay

By Ayodele Oni 

The Ondo State Government has suspended all union activities as well as the leadership at Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, following the continued shutdown of the institution despite directives to resume academic and administrative activities.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa expressed grave concern over the refusal of staff unions, particularly the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), RUGIPO Chapter, to comply with the state government’s order mandating the immediate reopening of the polytechnic.

The government noted that despite repeated instructions to staff and union leadership, the directive was defied, leading to the disruption of the academic calendar and what it described as an undermining of lawful authority within the institution.

To restore normalcy, the state government announced a number of measures with immediate effect. 

These include the suspension of all activities of ASUP, the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP), and the Non-Teaching Staff Union of Polytechnics (NOTSUP) within the institution.

 The suspension of unions leadership from all official engagements with the state and the polytechnic, pending further administrative review.

The statement further directed the immediate with holding of salaries of union members who have failed to resume duties in line with the government’s directive, while reaffirming the enforcement of the “No work, no pay” policy.

The industrial action by the staff unions was triggered by protests over the non-payment of the approved minimum wage, which the Ondo State Government has so far declined to implement for workers of the institution.

The statement was signed on behalf of the governor by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Union Matters and Special Duties, Comrade Bola Taiwo, to the Chairman of the institution’s chapter of Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics, SSANIP;

“The Governor of Ondo State, His Excellency, Dr Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has noted with grave concern the continued refusal of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), RUGIPO Chapter to comply with the directive mandating the immediate reopening of the institution and resumption of academic and administrative activities.

“Despite clear instructions issued to all staff and the leadership of the Union, it is observed that the Union has willfully defied the directive thereby disrupting the academic calendar and undermining lawful authority.

“In view of the foregoing, and in the interest of restoring normalcy, the Ondo State Government hereby issues the following directives with immediate effect”:

The directive was also copied to the Rector; and Chairmen of the institution’s chapters of Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP; Non Teaching Staff Union of Polytechnics, NOTSUP; the state Commissioner of Police; and Director of State Security Services.

 Governor Aiyedatiwa had last week cleared the outstanding three months’ salary arrears of the institution’s workers.

Also, he confirmed the appointment of the Rector, Dr. Simeon Olorunwa Adegun, who has been on the seat in acting capacity since October 2024, a situation that had been crippling development at the institution.