By Dayo Johnson Akure

Workers of Ondo State-owned Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, have staged a peaceful protest demanding for their inclusion in the new national minimum wage being paid to other state workers.

They were led by the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP) and backed by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP).

Addressing newsmen, the SSANIP Chairman, Comrade Saka Olokungboye Nurudeen, accused the Ondo state government of sidelining workers of the polytechnic despite the implementation of the new wage for other public servants.

Olokungboye said that although President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed the new national minimum wage into law in 2024 and the state began payment in October of that year, staff of the polytechnic have remained on the old N18,000 salary structure.

He described the situation as unfair, noting that the outdated wage is no longer sustainable amid rising living costs.

According to him the economic hardship has placed enormous pressure on workers, many of whom are struggling to provide for their families.

“For over a year, other state workers have benefited from the new wage, but our members have been excluded. Several appeals to the authorities have not produced any meaningful response.

Also addressing reporters, ASUP Chairman, Comrade Ade Arikawe, appealed to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to intervene and ensure immediate compliance with the law.

Arikawe said that “The minimum wage is a legal entitlement, not a favour. Our members deserve equal treatment with other state employees.

“The minimum wage is backed by law and should not be treated as a privilege. We urge the governor to address this matter and ensure that workers of this institution are not treated differently from other state employees,”

They accused the state government of making repeated promises without concrete action, stressing that the protest would remain peaceful but sustained until their demands were met.

According to them the action was aimed at compelling the relevant authorities to immediately implement the approved minimum wage for workers of the institution.

The unions maintained that the protest would remain peaceful but persistent until the new minimum wage is fully implemented for staff of the institution.

Reacting, the institutions vice Chancellor Prof lgbekele Ajibefun said that “We have invited them into a meeting and listened to their plights and demands. we agreed that the institution’s gate should be open for academic and administrative activities.

“I told them to allow peace to reign and should allow us to present their demands to Mr Governor. So, their grievances will be looked into and addressed in no distance time.”