Academic, business and social activities were grounded for several hours earlier on Tuesday at Ondo state government-owned Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, RUGIPO.
The development was due to the protest by workers of the institution, who are demanding payment of their accumulated salary arrears and promotions.
The protesting staff of the institution who blocked all entrances into the campus, accused the management and governing council of the school of refusing to pay their salaries for over eight months and refusal to promote workers in the last three years.
Addressing the workers, the Chairman of the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics, SSANIP, Comrade Chris Olowolade, noted that they are tired of working without promotion in the last three years and without payment of salaries for months.
The SSANIP Chairman said: “We have spoken with the management several times about our grievances, nothing was done till today and that is why we embark on this peaceful protest to seek intervention our dear Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, we plead for the payment of our salary arrears for about 8 months.
“Workers deserve their wages, we can no longer cater for our families as a result if nonpayment of our salaries; we beg Mr Governor to look into our plight at RUGIPO,” Olowolade said.
Also Speaking, the Chairman, Non-Academic Staff Union, NASU RUGIPO Chapter, Comrade Adebayo Obayoriade, who spoke when the Rector of the institution, addressed the protecting workers, sought timely intervention of the management in settling their accumulated unpaid salaries.
The NASU Chairman said, “there is no promotion in this poly in the last three years, how can you boost morale of your workforce when there is no promotion. We are tired of this situation, we want the management of this school to act to save the staff.
They called on Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to intervene in the poor management of the polytechnic by the current authorities.
The Rector of the institution, Mr Gani Ogundahunsi and some Chiefs from the Olowo of Owo’s palace, pleaded with the aggrieved workers to still exercise patience with the management and the state government to attend to their demands.
Normalcy has however returned to the campus after the timely intervention of the top management staff and community leaders. (Sunshine Truth)
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