Ondo poly lecturers begin strike over unpaid 13 months salary

To protest the non-payment of their 13 months’ wage, the teachers at the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic in Owo, Ondo State, have started a strike.

In an effort to do this, the disgruntled lecturers made a commitment not to take part in the school’s upcoming first semester exams, scheduled for next Tuesday, under the sponsorship of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic, RUGIPO chapter.

This was stated in a communiqué released at the conclusion of the union congress, which took place on Thursday. The union’s chairman, Comrade Arikawe Ade, and secretary, Comrade Fapetu Damilola, both signed the statement.

The members’ union unanimously decided to stop providing services at the conclusion of their congress, so the industrial action started on Friday, according to the communiqué.

“We want the payment in full of all outstanding (13 months) salary arrears owed to the staff of the institution,” the communiqué stated. “The judgment above is binding on all of the union’s financial members, the Congress wants to stress.”

The organization also noted that it was extremely difficult for members to attend meetings and perform other official tasks given the current fuel price before coming to a resolution.

The Congress also referred to the suffering of its members due to a backlog of unpaid pay as pitiful, pleading with the state government to help the institution’s administrators clear the salary arrears just like the state and local government employees who are not being owed salaries.