The Ondo State House of Assembly has appealed to the management and members of staff of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic (RUGIPO), Owo, to show understanding and embrace peace in the interest of the students.

The workers of the institution on Tuesday embarked on an indefinite strike over the non-payment of six months salaries and non-implementation of the national minimum wage.

The House of Assembly, had on Thursday, set an ad hoc committee to investigate the reasons for the protest.

The House of the Assembly, through the ad hoc committee, however, assured the workers that all their demands would be addressed.

The chairman of the ad-hoc committee, Stephen Abitogun, made the appeal during a meeting with the school’s management on Monday in Akure.

Mr Abitogun said that institutions of higher learning are meant to be centres of academic excellence where talents are nurtured and careers are shaped.

He stated that the state was known for peace and tranquillity, hence the House of the Assembly’s decision to set up an ad hoc committee to interface with key stakeholders in the institution.

The chairman explained that the engagement process had been structured into three stages: meeting with the polytechnic management, engagement with the academic and non-academic staff, and dialogue with the students.

“As representatives of the people, some of whom have their wards in that institution, we cannot stand by and watch the institution becoming a breeding ground for unrest.

“We pledge to review the findings of this committee and make recommendations to the appropriate authorities to restore and sustain peace, progress and stability on campus,” he said.

Also speaking, the acting rector of RUGIPO, Adegun Olorunwa, admitted that the workers were being owed six months salaries and pleaded with them to exercise patience as efforts were ongoing to address the situation.

On the implementation of the minimum wage, Mr Olorunwa stated that no higher institution in the state has received increased subvention to implement it.

“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 per cent. Sometimes it was 10 per cent, 20 per cent, and at best, 70 per cent.

“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, for the past 18 months, we have been paying salaries in full; 100 per cent. The state governor, since inception, has been attending to our concerns by paying six out of twelve months’ salary arrears at once,” he said.

Mr Olorunwa said that his approach has been entirely peaceful, stating that 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 exist.

“We are here to listen to you. At the end of this process, our recommendations will be aimed at ensuring peace and development,” he said.

(NAN)