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The aggrieved academic and non-academic staff of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, on Thursday said they suspended their industrial action over the non-implementation of the new national minimum wage by the Oyo State Government.
The workers embarked on an indefinite industrial action on January 11 following the resolution of a special congress of the unions.
According to the unions, the strike was suspended for 21days to honour Oyo State governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde and the Governing Council of the institution.
The staff unions of the institution in a statement jointly signed by Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP) Chairman, Biodun Abegunde; Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) Chairman, Ibraheem Akande; and Representative of Academics, T.M. Oyebola, said: “Members of staff of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, under the umbrella of NASU, SSANIP and Academics, had a congress this morning Thursday, 18th February, 2021 at the Conference Centre of the institution to review its position on implementation of minimum wage, payment of obnoxious tax, the imposition of Platinum I.T Consultant on the institution among others.
“After serious deliberations at the congress, it resolved to honour Governor Seyi Makinde and the sub-committee of the Governing Council of The Polytechnic, Ibadan who made an appeal and who had been listening to the yearnings of the Unions and other dignitaries within Ibadan metropolis.
“The Congress unanimously decided to suspend its strike action for 21 days with the hope that The Polytechnic, Ibadan Council Committee headed by Prof. S. G. Odewunmi would liaise with the government to resolve the Unions’ demands.
“If the government and the Council fail to do the needful within the 21 days set, the Unions would not have any other option than to resume the suspended strike action.
“The unions appeal to the stakeholders in the education sector in Oyo State and the general public to prevail on the Oyo State Government to accede to its requests and save the state and the institution from avoidable embarrassment.”