Reports reaching us from Eruwa, headquarters of Ibarapa East Local Government Area of Oyo State have it that workers at the Ibarapa Polytechnic, Eruwa are currently protesting against the alleged non-payment of their salaries and other entitlements running to twenty-four months by the Oyo state government.
The workers, among whom were members of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP) and Non Academic Staff Union (NASU), were as at press time locking the gates of the institution.
DAILY POST learnt that they had yesterday informed the students not to come to school today (Wednesday) warning that should they come, no one will attend to them.
A source, who spoke with DAILY POST in a telephone conversation Wednesday morning, informed that the workers after chasing the students out of the institution, declared an indefinite strike over the alleged non-payment of their salaries and other entitlements by the state government.
The source, who spoke in confidence with our correspondent, added that the workers had waited for many months to be paid, noting that they declared the commencement of the strike after all efforts to get their entitlements met a brick wall.
He said, “Yes, the workers in Ibarapa Polytechnic Eruwa today embarked on strike. It started yesterday, they had informed the students not to come to the school today and when the students came they locked the gates and declared an indefinite strike.
“You can see in the pictures the students are locked outside. The workers are protesting against non-payment of their salaries for several months”.
Chairman, Non Academic Staff Union (NASU), the Polytechnic Ibadan chapter, Comrade Ibrahim Akande, who confirmed the commencement of the indefinite strike to DAILY POST, however warned that the Polytechnic Ibadan will also join the strike if the situation is not brought under control by the state government.
Akande, in a telephone conversation with our correspondent, added that the workers among whom were SSANIP and NASU members at Ibarapa Polytechnic Eruwa and Oke-Ogun Polytechnic Saki embarked on the strike due to the failure of the state government to offset their salaries and other entitlements running between 8 to 24 months.
Akande, who said it is only The Polytechnic Ibadan that is yet to join the industrial action, said workers at the Oke-Ogun Polytechnic, Saki are already on strike.
He said, “Yes, I can confirm to you that SSANIP and NASU members at the Ibarapa Polytechnic Eruwa have declared an indefinite strike over the non-payment of their salaries and other entitlements running between 8 and 24 months.
“It varies, as at the last time that we met, it was between 8 and 24 months. You can see that Oke-Ogun Polytechnic, Saki is also on strike. They are currently on strike due to non-payment of their salaries and other entitlements. SSANIP and NASU members in Saki are on strike too. Others are about to join.
“So, you can see that strike is looming in all the tertiary institutions in Oyo state. That of Polytechnic Ibadan is also looming. We are still waiting. It is only The Polytechnic Ibadan that is not on strike now. Yes, I can confirm to you.”
