…as state government argues that consultant was for efficiency and the minimum wage requested was out of FG minimum wage act
The entire workforce of The Polytechnic, Ibadan have declared an industrial action, alleging that the Government of Oyo State has chosen not to implement the minimum wage.
During a general meeting of the Academic and Non-academic staff summoned by the Joint committee of all the Staff Unions, the workers restated that both the governing council and Oyo State Government have consistently chosen not to execute the minimum wage for the institution’s workforce.
The Chairman of SSANIP, Abiodun Abegunde, while delivering his opening speech praised the efforts of the workers in their fight, and said the issue will be addressed to a logical conclusion. He noted that different efforts have been utilized to settle the dispute, but none have been successful, adding that the wage structure that the Unions are requesting for is lesser in comparison to her sister institutions in other states.
The Chairman of NASU said that the Governing Council itself was paralyzed by the overreaching activities of the Consultant. He wondered why the administration was willing to follow orders from the NBTE to lock down the school, but unwilling to implement the approved NBTE wage structure.
The representative of the academic staff, Nurudeen Akinade, remarked that the actions of the consultant are negating the edict that set up the institution and asked that such be dismissed in its entirety.
Workers speaking at the meeting decided that they had endured enough and it seemed the state government took them for granted.
A motion for strike action was thereby proposed and backed. It was decided that the strike was total and comprehensive, and no worker is exempted as essential services, till the government accedes to the demands
However, earlier today, the Commissioner of Education negated the actions of the workers, noting that the Government gave them a minimum wage that was according to the national minimum wage act, but only the Polytechnic Ibadan rejected it out of every state-owned Institutions.
He said they brought a minimum wage that was out of federal government minimum wage act.