Workers at the Ondo State Polytechnic have embarked on an indefinite strike action to protest months of unpaid salaries, bringing academic activities at the institution to a complete standstill.
The strike, which began yesterday morning, saw academic and non-academic staff deserting their duty posts after union leaders announced the industrial action following failed negotiations with the polytechnic management and state government representatives.
“We have been patient for too long,” said Mr. Adebayo Ogunleye, chairman of the Joint Action Committee of staff unions at the institution. “Our members can no longer feed their families or meet basic obligations. Some staff have not received salaries for four months now. This situation has become unbearable.”
Students were seen wandering around the nearly empty campus yesterday, expressing frustration over the abrupt halt to their academic activities. Final year student Tolu Adewale lamented, “This will affect our graduation timeline. We were preparing for our final examinations when this strike started.”
The Ondo State Commissioner for Higher Education, when contacted, acknowledged the salary challenges facing the institution but blamed the situation on the economic difficulties currently affecting the entire country. “The state government is working tirelessly to resolve this issue. We have scheduled another meeting with union leaders for next week,” the commissioner stated.
This strike comes at a particularly difficult time for the polytechnic, which has been grappling with infrastructure challenges and declining enrollment in recent years. Industry experts have warned that prolonged industrial action could further damage the institution’s reputation and exacerbate its existing problems.
Parents of students have called on the state government to prioritize education funding and resolve the salary impasse immediately. Mrs. Folashade Akindele, head of the institution’s Parent-Teacher Association, expressed concern about the impact of the strike on the academic calendar. “Our children’s future is at stake here. The government must act quickly before the situation deteriorates further,” she urged.
As the strike enters its second day, there appears to be no immediate resolution in sight, with union leaders insisting they will not return to work until all salary arrears are fully paid. The polytechnic’s management has called for patience and understanding from all stakeholders as efforts to resolve the crisis continue.
This industrial action adds to the growing list of labor disputes in Nigeria’s education sector, highlighting the financial challenges facing public institutions across the country.
