Ondo Poly Lecturers Commence Strike Over Unpaid 13-Month Salary

Lecturers at Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo State have embarked on strike due to non-payment of their salaries for 13 months.  

The affected lecturers under the aegis of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic, RUGIPO chapter, promised not to take part in the first semester examinations of the school which commenced next Tuesday if the Government fails to do as expected.

According to a communique signed by the union’s chairman, Comrade Arikawe Ade, and the secretary, Comrade Fapetu Damilola and issued at the end of the union's congress, the strike began on Friday after the union's members unanimously agreed to pause their services at the end of their congress. 

“We want the payment in full of all outstanding (13 months) salary arrears owed to the staff of the institution. The Congress wishes to strongly emphasise that the decision above is binding on all the financial members of the union,” the communiqué read.

It added that the union considered the difficulty encountered by members of the union due to the current fuel price before arriving at the decision. 

The union's congress also blamed the suffering of its members on the backlog of unpaid salaries, encouraging the state government to assist the institution’s authorities to clear the salary arrears.