Minimum wage: Polytechnics, College of Education workers threaten strike in Oyo

Workers of Polytechnics and College of Education in Oyo have threatened to withdraw their services beginning Wednesday, February 5, 2025, over the continued delay in the implementation of the approved minimum wage for the institutions.

The workers, in a statement signed by the Chairman of, Joint Action Committee (JAC), Tertiary Institutions in Oyo, Dr Kola Lawal, noted that they are worried about the continued delay in the implementation of the new minimum wage despite the commendable efforts of governor Seyi Makinde to improve workers’ welfare in the state.

The statement reads in parts: “It is on record that the governor, in his characteristic commitment to workers’ well-being, magnanimously approved the payment of the new minimum wage for all workers in Oyo.

“Furthermore, to ensure smooth implementation, the state government increased subvention to institutions, including Universities, Polytechnics, and Colleges of Education, to implement the new minimum wage for workers in these institutions to be paid accordingly.

“Furthermore, to ensure smooth implementation, the state government increased subvention to institutions, including Universities, Polytechnics, and Collegess of Education, to implement the new minimum wage for workers in these institutions to be paid accordingly. However, despite these provisions, the management of our institutions has failed to implement the payment of the new minimum wage as expected.

“Technology (LAUTECH) and Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, Oyo, which received the same percentage increase in subvention at the same time, immediately implemented the new minimum wage for January 2025.

“Unfortunately, workers in Polytechnics and College of Education in Oyo State have not received the same treatment, even though the funds meant for this purpose have been made available. This failure has further worsened the financial hardships faced by workers, especially in the face of rising inflation and economic challenges.

“We view this development as a clear neglect of our welfare and an outright failure to uphold the good intentions of the state government, which had taken proactive steps to ensure that workers are adequately remunerated. It is unacceptable that while other institutions enjoy the new minimum wage, workers in our Polytechnics and College of Education are left behind despite being equally deserving.

“In light of this, we demand the immediate implementation of the new minimum wage for the month of January 2025, as approved by the Governor, and insist that salaries from February 2025 onward reflect the new wage structure* without further delay. The delay in implementing this policy has placed undue financial strain on workers who are expected to deliver quality education under increasingly difficult conditions.

“We wish to state categorically that should the balance of the minimum wage table not be paid by Wednesday, 5th February 2025, workers across Polytechnics and College of Education in Oyo State will withdraw their services indefinitely starting from Thursday, 6th February 2025. This industrial action will be total and comprehensive until the issue is fully resolved.

“It is our hope that those responsible for implementing the governor’s directive will act swiftly to prevent disruptions in academic activities and ensure that workers receive their rightful wages.

“We remain committed to our duties, but we will not continue to watch in silence as our rights and entitlements are ignored. We call on all relevant authorities, stakeholders, and well-meaning individuals to intervene and ensure that this issue is resolved immediately in the interest of industrial harmony, the welfare of workers, and the progress of education in Oyo.”