
Mustapha Aishat, Confidence News Nigeria,
On Thursday, February 6, 2025, staff members of The Polytechnic and state-owned colleges of education in Oyo State will commence an indefinite strike.
According to Dr. Kola Lawal, Chairman of the Joint Action Committee, announced the decision in a statement on Sunday, citing the non-implementation of the new minimum wage for staff of state-owned tertiary institutions as the primary reason for the industrial action.
Even Though Governor Seyi Makinde had approved N80,000 for minimum wages for several oyo workers starting with January salary. However, the JAC Chairman, Dr. Kola noted that despite the government’s increase in subventions to tertiary Institutions, their management have yet to implement the new wage, raising concern among the staff members.
The non-payment of the new minimum wage to polytechnic and college of education workers has been described as unacceptable, especially given that state-owned universities like Ladoke Akintola University of Technology and Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, Oyo, received the same percentage increase in subvention and have successfully implemented the policy and already receiving their minimum wage.
In response, the workers have demanded the immediate implementation of the approved minimum wage and insisted that salaries from February 2025 onward reflect the new wage structure without delay.
Furthermore, they warned that if the minimum wage table is not provided by Wednesday, February 5, 2025, staff across polytechnics and colleges of education will embark on an indefinite strike starting Thursday, February 6, 2025.
The workers see this as a clear neglect of their welfare and a failure to uphold the state government’s good intentions, despite its proactive efforts to ensure fair remuneration, the chairman concluded.