Oyo tertiary institutions workers suspend two-month old strike

Academic and Non-academic staff in the six tertiary institutions owned by Oyo state government have suspended their two months old strike.

The six institutions including, The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo, Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora, The Ibarapa polytechnic, Eruwa, The Oke-Ogun Polytechnic, Saki, and College of Education, Lanlate had been on strike since November 2 last year over reduction in their subventions by the state government.

It was gathered that the strike was suspended after some grey areas surrounding the non-payment of salaries, payment of full salaries and restoration of the subventions to the institutions among other issues were addressed by representatives of the unions in the six institutions and Oyo state government officials.

According to the Chairman of the Joint Action Committee of the unions, Babatunde Adeniyi, the Unions decided to suspend the strike action following the resolutions of the newly inaugurated Governing Council Chairmen of the six institutions to restore the payment of 100 percent salary of the workers with effect from January 2018.

Adeniyi added that the unions suspended the strike action with the understanding that the Oyo State Government would release funds to the state-owned tertiary Institutions to clear the salary arrears of workers ranging from 10 to 17 months.

Chairman, Non-Academic Staff Union at The Polytechnic Ibadan chapter, Ibrahim Adekunle Akande who also confirmed the suspension of the strike noted that the strike was suspended when the government agreed to commence payment of their full salaries with effect from January 2018.

Akande said though the unions have suspended the strike in all the six institutions, they were still in series of meetings to address some other key areas.

Meanwhile, the Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has approved the immediate release of years 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 promotions in the state civil/public service of Oyo State.

The outgoing Head of Service, Mr. Soji Eniade who disclosed this in recently in Ibadan, said the governor is committed to the welfare of workers in the state, pledging that workers in the state through hard work and commitment while in the service of Oyo State would ne adequately appreciated and rewarded.

Eniade charged workers in the state to be diligent, dedicated, devoted, committed and work assiduously towards ensuring financial sufficiency for the state, stating that the on-going restructuring exercise in the civil/public service was embarked upon to clean and sanitize the system.He solicited the support and cooperation of workers for the state government towards achieving desirable results in the on-going state Public/Civil service reform in order to uplift the system to an enviable height.

The HoS emphasized that the restructuring exercise of the government is not meant to witch-hunt anybody, saying that what the government is doing is a standard periodic self-check which is standard practice throughout the world where quality service delivery is expected.

He commended the state governor for his wise and bold decisions that have kept the state afloat despite the present economic situation in the country, urging that workers should reciprocate the governor’s kind gesture with commitment, efficiency and effectiveness in discharging their duties.