Blessing Abimbola
Lecturers of the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, in Ondo State have begun an industrial action to protest against nonpayment of their 13 months salary.
In a communiqu issued at the end of the congress by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic, RUGIPO chapter on Thursday, the lecturers vowed not to participate in the first semester examinations of the school, coming up next Tuesday, unless the government wade into the matter.
The communiqu was signed by the unions chairman, Comrade Arikawe Ade, and the secretary, Comrade Fapetu Damilola.
The members union unanimously agreed to withdraw their services at the end of their congress, which means the industrial action began on Friday.
We want the payment in full of all outstanding (13 months) salary arrears owed to the staff of the institution.
The Congress wishes to strongly emphasise that the decision above is binding on all the financial members of the union.
It added that the union observed that the hardship of the current price of fuel on their members and attendance at their official duties is making it extremely tough.
The Congress also described pathetic the suffering of its members due to a backlog of unpaid salaries.
It called on the Ondo State government to assist the institutions authorities to settle the salary arrears like the state and local government workers who are not being owed salaries.