Oyo State, Nigeria – In a significant move, teaching and non-teaching staff of Oyo state-owned tertiary institutions commenced an indefinite strike on Monday, March 10, 2025. This decision was reached by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) following ongoing frustrations over unpaid wage increments and other pressing demands.
The JAC, which encompasses 15 unions from various institutions, highlighted that the strike was necessitated by the management’s failure to implement the approved 25/35% salary increase and the new minimum wage for workers in polytechnics and colleges of education. Dr. Kola Lawal and Akeem Abiola, the chairman and secretary of JAC, expressed their disappointment over the lack of meaningful progress despite numerous meetings and consultations since January 2024.
“The unions had previously declared an industrial dispute regarding the new minimum wage and conducted a two-day warning strike on February 6 and 7, 2025, but these actions did not yield positive outcomes,” the statement noted. The unions even granted an extension for resolution, particularly in light of recent accreditation exercises, yet the authorities failed to take concrete actions.
The ongoing economic challenges in Nigeria have exacerbated the situation for workers, who are struggling with rising costs of living and financial strain. The JAC emphasized that the non-implementation of the approved salary structure has significantly impacted the morale and performance of the staff, ultimately affecting the quality of education within the state-owned institutions.
With workers demanding their overdue raises, the situation has reached a critical point. The union is now insisting on the immediate implementation of the approved new minimum wage, the earlier approved salary increases, and an increase in the subvention to the institutions to meet their financial obligations.
As the indefinite strike unfolds, stakeholders are urged to address these critical issues promptly to restore normalcy in Oyo state-owned tertiary institutions.
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