Oyo Polytechnics, Colleges of Education Workers Threaten Strike Over Minimum Wage Delay

Workers of Polytechnics and Colleges of Education in Oyo State have issued a warning to withdraw their services starting Wednesday, February 5, 2025, due to the prolonged delay in implementing the approved minimum wage for their institutions.

In a statement signed by the Chairman of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Tertiary Institutions in Oyo, Dr. Kola Lawal, the workers expressed concern over the delay, despite Governor Seyi Makinde’s commendable efforts to improve workers’ welfare in the state.

The statement reads in part: “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.

“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.

“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 Colleges 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.”