RUGIPO: Ondo Assembly assures intervention, appeal for calm among workers
By Awodeyi Elizabeth
The Ondo State House of Assembly has appealed to the management and members of staff of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (RUGIPO), to show understanding and embrace peace in the overall interest of all, especially the students.
At a meeting held at the Assembly complex, the legislative arm of government assured that the institution’s pressing issues would be addressed.
The meeting followed last week’s protest and indefinite strike embarked upon by workers of the institution over the non-payment of salaries and non-implementation of the national minimum wage.
Briefing the committee on the development, Acting Rector, Mr Adegun Olorunwa who led other Management team admitted that they are being owed six months’ salary arrears and pleaded with the workers to exercise patience as efforts are ongoing through the state government and other interventions to address the situation.
On the implementation of the minimum wage, Mr Olorunwa stated that no institution in the state, including RUGIPO, has received increased subvention to implement it.
He debunked the rumour that the school gate and the highway were shut down and barricaded by the striking workers.
The Rector explained that he assumed office on 9th September 2023, which makes it 18 months in office, and that he has since been working to resolve the institution’s salary challenges.
“From as far back as 2017, the allocation the institution received was significantly below what was required. For example, there were about two bonus interventions which had to be used to pay just one month’s salary. That was the reality.
“Upon my assumption of office, the situation had deteriorated so much that salaries were being paid in percentages. At that time, staff were receiving as little as 5%. Sometimes it was 10%, 20%, and at best, 70%. We often had to wait three months just to pay one month’s salary. It was that bad.
“But on the very day I took over, I gathered the staff and declared that the era of percentage salary payments had come to an end. By God’s grace, that declaration has held true.
“I can confidently tell you that, since 18 months ago, we have been paying salaries in full,100 percent. The governor, since inception, has been attending to our concerns by paying six out of twelve months’ salary arrears at once.
“The most significant issue is the non-implementation of the minimum wage. None of the four tertiary institutions in the state has received the funds required to implement it, except for those that have managed to pay through internal arrangements.
“But for us, as a public institution, the oldest,with about 1,650 staff and 509 retirees, there’s no way we can generate enough funds on our own to cover this. That’s the reality.
“Our approach has been entirely peaceful. The institution has never been shut down. As we speak, students are still on campus. So, the idea of shutting down the institution simply does not arise.”
The Acting Rector, who highlighted some of his achievements since assuming office,including the payment of over N82 million to retirees, digitalisation of documents from 1979 till date, revitalisation of ventures, and introduction of CBT exams for students promised to do his best to move the institution forward.
Other Management appealed for release of fund for capital projects for the development of the school.
The Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee, Mr Stephen Abitogun, while speaking during the meeting, noted that institutions of higher learning are meant to be centres of academic excellence where talents are nurtured and careers are shaped.
He emphasised that Ondo State is known for its peace and tranquillity, hence the House’s decision to set up a fact-finding committee to interface with key stakeholders in the institution.
The Chairman explained that the engagement process has been structured into three stages: meeting with the polytechnic management, engagement with the academic and non-academic staff, and dialogue with the student community.
Other members further stressed the need for all stakeholders to act responsibly, stating, “As representatives of the people, some of whom have their wards in that institution, we cannot stand by and watch the institution become a breeding ground for unrest.”
The Assembly pledged to review the findings of the panel and make recommendations to the appropriate authorities to restore and sustain peace, progress, and stability on campus.
“We are here to listen to you. At the end of this process, our recommendations will be aimed at ensuring peace and development”.
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