The Ondo State House of Assembly has waded into the ongoing salary dispute between the management of the state-owned Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, and its aggrieved workers, in a bid to restore calm and ensure uninterrupted academic activities.
This intervention follows a series of protests by members of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) and other non-academic unions over the non-payment of several months’ salaries and allowances. The unrest had recently disrupted operations within the institution, prompting concerns from students, parents, and stakeholders.
During a special session held on Tuesday, the House Committee on Tertiary Education summoned key stakeholders, including the school management, union leaders, and representatives of the Ondo State Ministry of Education, for a closed-door dialogue aimed at finding a lasting solution.
Addressing the press after the meeting, Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Oladiji Adesanmi, assured the public that the Assembly is committed to resolving the issue urgently.
“We cannot allow our educational institutions to suffer from avoidable crises,” he said. “We’ve listened to all parties involved, and we are working with the executive arm to ensure that workers’ legitimate grievances are addressed promptly.”
According to union representatives, workers are owed salary arrears spanning several months, alongside unresolved issues surrounding promotions and welfare packages. They stressed that while they are open to dialogue, concrete action must follow.
“We are not out to fight the government, but our members are going through real hardship,” said one ASUP leader. “The Assembly’s intervention is timely, but we expect results, not just promises.”
In response, the institution’s management cited dwindling subventions and financial constraints as major setbacks, but expressed optimism that with the Assembly’s involvement, progress can be made toward clearing the arrears and restoring normalcy.
The Assembly promised to relay its findings to the state governor and push for immediate financial relief while working on long-term reforms to prevent a recurrence.
As deliberations continue, students remain hopeful that the Assembly’s intervention will yield a quick resolution, allowing academic activities to resume without further disruption.
source: gazettengr.com
