Ondo Assembly Intervenes in Polytechnic Workers’ Salary Dispute

The Ondo State House of Assembly has stepped into the ongoing salary dispute affecting workers at the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic in Owo.

This intervention comes after members of staff protested earlier this week over the non-payment of six months salaries.

The protesting workers, under the umbrellas of the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP), also raised concerns over the alleged failure of the state government to implement the national minimum wage.

During a plenary session today, the Speaker of the Assembly, Chief Olamide Oladiji, announced the constitution of an ad-hoc committee to thoroughly investigate the matter.

He expressed the House’s concern over the recurring salary issues at the polytechnic, noting that it appeared to be the only state-owned institution frequently facing such crises despite similar funding structures across the board.

The ad-hoc committee has been given a two-week deadline to conduct its investigation and report its findings to the Assembly. Mr. Steven Abitogun, representing Akure South Constituency 2, has been appointed as the chairman of the committee, tasked with finding lasting solutions to the salary dispute.

Meanwhile, Speaker Oladiji also announced a four-week recess for the House, commencing tomorrow, April 11th, and concluding on May 15th.

This recess will allow lawmakers to attend to pressing issues within their constituencies and observe the upcoming Easter celebration.

Oladiji thanked the members for their continued support and cooperation since the beginning of the 10th Assembly, recalling their earlier decision to cut short a previous recess to address the screening and confirmation of commissioner-nominees. He emphasized the importance of their constitutional responsibilities, particularly in representing the interests of their constituents.