Academic and non-academic activities were paralysed as teaching and non-teaching staff of the Oyo State-owned tertiary institutions began an indefinite strike on Monday.
The strike, according to the Joint Action Committee of the institutions, in a statement by its chairman and secretary, Kola Lawal and Akeem Abiola, respectively, is in protest to the failure of the state government and governing councils of their institutions to meet their demands.
The affected institutions are The Polytechnic, Ibadan; The Oke-Ogun Polytechnic, Saki; Adeseun Ogundoyin Polytechnic, Eruwa; Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora; and Oyo State College of Education, Lanlate.
The strike is to demand the immediate implementation of the approved new minimum wage, including the earlier approved 25/35 per cent salary increase for workers in the state-owned tertiary institutions, and an increase in the subvention released to the institutions, including the payment of the approved wage structure.
The statement read, “The non-implementation of the approved salary increase and the new minimum wage has created significant financial strain on the workers, who are already grappling with the high cost of living and inflation in the country.
“This situation has not only affected the morale of the workers but has also undermined their ability to perform their duties effectively, thereby impacting the quality of education in the state-owned tertiary institutions.
“The indefinite strike will continue until the union’s demands are met and the welfare of their members is guaranteed.”
The striking staff noted that several meetings with the heads of institutions, representatives of Platinum Consultants, and the Commissioner for Education failed to resolve the issues.
The JAC called for the intervention of Governor Seyi Makinde to prevent the strike from dragging, as it stated that it was open to meaningful discussions and negotiations with the relevant authorities.
“The inability to implement the approved wage structure, which has already been enjoyed by workers in Federal institutions and some state-owned institutions like Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso and Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, Oyo, has left members of the JAC in a dire situation.
“The unions had previously declared an industrial dispute on the new minimum wage and conducted a two-day warning strike on February 6 and 7, 2025, but these actions did not yield any positive results.
“The unions also granted a final three-day extension on March 5, 2025, to allow for resolution, particularly considering the recent accreditation exercises in some of the institutions.
“However, regrettably, no concrete action has been taken by the authorities to address the concerns raised by the unions.
“The economic realities in Nigeria, coupled with the rising costs of attending conferences and publishing academic papers necessary for career progression and program accreditation, have made it increasingly difficult for workers to meet their basic needs.
“The JAC is calling on Governor Seyi Makinde, to intervene and ensure that the welfare of workers in the state-owned tertiary institutions is prioritized.
“Governor Makinde, who is known for his love for workers and commitment to education, is urged to use his good offices to address the issues raised by the unions.
“The JAC is also calling on all stakeholders, including the government, governing councils of the institutions, and the general public, to prevail on the necessary authorities to address these issues urgently,” the statement read.
