In a bid to protest against the non-payment of their salaries for a staggering 13 months, the lecturers of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic (RUGIPO) have embarked on an industrial action.
The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP), RUGIPO chapter, representing the aggrieved lecturers, have declared their refusal to participate in the upcoming first semester examinations scheduled for next Tuesday unless the government addresses their demands.
This decision was announced in a communiqué issued by the union’s chairperson, Arikawe Ade, and secretary, Fapetu Damilola, following a congress held on Thursday.
The document emphasized the unanimous agreement reached by the congress members to withdraw their services from the scheduled examination exercise until their conditions are met.
“After much emphasis and extensive deliberation, the Congress unanimously agreed to withdraw the services of members from participating in the scheduled First Semester Examination Exercise, which is proposed to commence on 13th June 2023, until the condition below is met,” the communiqué stated.
The lecturers expressed the severe hardships they have been enduring, citing the current fuel price and its adverse effects on their members’ ability to fulfill their official duties.
“We want the payment in full of all outstanding (13 Months) salary arrears owned by the staff of the institution,” the statement further said.
“The Congress wishes to strongly emphasize that the decision above is binding on all the financial members of the union (ASUP),” the statement further highlighted.
It is worth noting that the lecturers previously staged a protest in January last year due to the same issue of unpaid salary arrears.
They reluctantly returned to work after receiving promises that their salaries would be settled. However, with their expectations unfulfilled, the lecturers have resorted to industrial action once again.
The impact of this strike action on the academic activities of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic remains a significant concern.
Students and stakeholders await a resolution to the ongoing dispute between the lecturers and the government, hoping for a swift resolution that will restore normalcy to the institution.
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