Workers of the Ondo State-owned Rufurs Giwa Polytechnic(RUGIPO), Owo, have lamented that they are still receiving N18,000 minimum wage, as against the N73,000 approved for workers in the state public service.
The workers under the aegis of Joint Action Committee of Ondo State-Owned Tertiary Institution’s (JAC-ODSTI) stated this in a communique issued on Friday.
The communique issued at the end of the first quarter congress held at the Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH), Okitipupa, was jointly signed by Comrade Tayo Ogungbeni and Comrade Kunle Akinwonmi, the Chairman and Secretary,, respectively.
JAC-ODSTI comprises the Senior Staff Union of Nigeria Universities (SSANU), Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT).
Thefrontrank reports that the unions are from OAUSTECH, Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba-Akoko, University of Medical Sciences, Ondo and Rufus GIwa Polytechnic (RUGIPO), Owo.
The workers said in addition to being paid N18,000 minimum wage, they are owed three months salaries promised by Governor Lucky Ayedatiwa during the 2025 Convocation ceremony.
“Congress call on the state government to urgently release the three months staff salary arrears to the staff of RUGIPO, earlier pronounced during the 2025 Convocation ceremony of institution.
“Congress also demands the immediate implementation of the ₦70,000 minimum wage for staff of RUGIPO, as against the current ₦18,000 being paid.
“We demand the full implementation of the 2026 approved budget to all state-owned tertiary institutions to enable them to meet their financial obligations to both staff and students.
“Congress recall that the governor’s earlier acknowledgment over the 2025 budgetary allocations were not fully implemented and urged immediate corrective action to avert further institutional decline,” the communique read
The workers said that critical issues affecting members welfare and the sustainability of tertiary education in the state were considered.
According to them, several unresolved issues are negatively affecting staff welfare and effective functioning of tertiary institutions in the state, in view of the contemporary global standards.
They commended Aiyedatiwa for the payment of the last tranche of the Wage Award and the release of the outstanding January 2017 subventions to state-owned institution’s, saying that the efforts were positive steps toward addressing the long-standing financial challenges in the sector.
The workers expressed deep concern over the continued delay in the release of the report of the staff verification and audit exercise conducted across the various tertiary institutions in 2025, urging the government to make the report public without further delay.
