Academic activities at The Polytechnic Ibadan were paralysed this morning as workers embarked on an indefinite strike to protest non-implementation of the new minimum wage by the Oyo state government.
Mega Icon Magazine reliably gathered that at a general meeting of academic and non-academic staff convened by a Joint committee of all Staff Unions, on Monday, it was reiterated that the governing council, and by extension Oyo state government has repeatedly refused to implement the minimum wage for workers in the citadel of learning.
The Chairman, Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP), The Polytechnic Ibadan chapter, Abiodun Abegunde, who lauded the workers for their steadfastness so far, noted that the issue must be fought to a logical conclusion.
The SSANIP chairman explained that several efforts have been employed to resolve the impasse, but to no avail.
Speaking further, Abegunde noted that the wage structure being demanded by the Unions is even lower than that being enjoyed by sister institutions in other states.
Also commenting, the Chairman, Non-Academic Staff Union, NASU, Ibrahim Akande said the Governing Council itself was incapacitated by the overreaching activities of the Consultant.
Akande wondered why the management was willing to follow a directive from the NBTE to lock down the school, but unwilling to implement the wage structure approved by the same NBTE.
The representative of academic staff, Nurudeen Akinade, in his remarks, alleged that the activities of the consultant is a clear negation of the edict setting up the institution and asked that such be rejected outrightly.
He noted that no form of sabotage would prevent the achievements of the demands.
Workers, who spoke at the meeting agreed that they had endured enough and it seemed the state government had taken their patience as cowardice.
A motion for a strike action was thereby moved and seconded. It was emphasized that the strike was total and comprehensive, and no worker is exempted as essential services, till the government accedes to the demands.
