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A strike has been started by lecturers at the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic in Owo, Ondo State, in protest of the non-payment of their 13 months' wage.
As a way to do this, the disgruntled lecturers, acting through the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic, RUGIPO chapter, promised not to take part in the school's first semester exams, scheduled for next Tuesday, unless the government took the appropriate action.
This was stated in a communiqué that was released following the union convention, which took place on Thursday. Both the union's secretary, Comrade Fapetu Damilola, and chairman, Comrade Arikawe Ade, signed the statement.
The communiqué states that the members' union unanimously decided to discontinue their services at the conclusion of their convention, which signifies the start of the industrial action.
In the statement, it was said that "We demand payment in full of all outstanding (13-month) salary arrears owed to the institution's workers. The judgment above is enforceable on all union financial members, the Congress wishes to emphasize clearly."
The organization also said that it was extremely difficult for members to attend meetings and do other official tasks due to the current high cost of petrol.
The Congress also referred to the suffering of its members as pitiful as a result of a backlog of unpaid salaries, pleading with the state government to help the institution's administrators clear the salary arrears similar to the state and local government employees who are not being due salaries.
