Ondo Polytechnic Workers Appeal To Gov Aiyedatiwa Over Six Months Salary Arrears, N30,000 Minimum Wage

By Ayodele Oni

The Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP) Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, (RUGIPO) branch has appealed to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to complete payment of six months salary arrears owed the workers.

Aiyedatiwa had approved payment of three out of the six months owed the workers.

The union also pleaded for the implementation of N30, 000 minimum wage for the workers.

The workers union identified non payment of salary as one out of myriads  of problems confronting the polytechnic.

“It is on record that the Polytechnic is faced with myriad of problems ranging from shortage and decay infrastructure, delayed staff promotions, prolonged academic session as a result of frequent misunderstanding between Management and Unions on campus over staff welfare and in particular, on irregular payment of salary, just to mention a few.

“The myriad of problems confronting the Polytechnic predated the emergence of His Excellency, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa as the Executive Governor of our dear Sunshine State.

“However, within the little time he acted as Acting Governor of Ondo State in 2023, he graciously approved payment of three months out of the then outstanding 13 months salary arrears.

“Rufus Giwa Polytechnic,Owo, being the oldest tertiary Institution in the State has had its own fair share of problem of funding.

“The dichotomy between University and Polytechnic Certificate had its impact on the Institution coupled with mal-administration of successive Governing Council which had only come to take without any tangible contributions to the growth and development of the Polytechnic.

“The foregoing predicaments was further compounded by the irregular payment of workers salary as and when due.

“The regime of percentage payment did a calculated damage to the Polytechnic due to constant skirmish between Management and Labour Unions resulting to incessant strike actions and unnecessary prolonged academic sessions.

“All these became a thing of the past immediately His Excellency, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa assumed office as Governor of the State.

“In his magnanimity, he graciously approved a further payment of three months salary out of the outstanding 9 months arrears and put an end to the institutionalized regime of percentage payment in the Polytechnic.”

In a statement signed by Saka-Olokungboye, Chairman and Olanitori Olayemi, Secretary, they stated that “Our appeal to Mr. Governor is to kindly complete what he started by defraying the remaining six  months outstanding salary arrears .

“In addition to the aforestated, it is also necessary to intimate the Governor that it is only workers of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo that are still collecting N18,000 as minimum wage in the state.

“It is also Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo only that is yet to effect the 25/35% increment for workers of Tertiary Institutions in the State.

“We are aware that Ondo State Government will soon start the implementation of the new National minimum wage of  N70,000 only to its workers including staff of the Polytechnic.

“Before this implementation, SSANIP humbly wishes to passionately appeal to our amiable Governor and Visitor to our Institution His Excellency, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa to beautify the good work he has started in the Polytechnic by paying the outstanding six months salary owed staff of the Polytechnic.”