Oyo State-owned tertiary institutions began an indefinite strike on Monday following the non-payment of staff minimum wage and other arrears.

The chairman, Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Oyo State Tertiary Institutions, Kola Lawal, disclosed this in Ibadan.

Mr Lawal said the unions were also calling for the implementation of the approved 25 and 35 per cent salary increments.

He said JAC, comprising 15 unions across five state-owned tertiary institutions, had been actively negotiating with the management of the institutions to address the issues.

“Since January 2024, our counterparts in other institutions have been benefiting from the approved 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary increment,” he said, citing Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) and Emmanuel Alayande University of Education.

“However, despite several meetings, notices, and ultimatums, our management has been unable to implement these increases and the new minimum wage.

Mr Lawal recalled they had embarked on a two-day warning strike on February 6 and 7.

“Following this, we extended a final three-day ultimatum, considering ongoing accreditation exercises. Regrettably, as of March 5, 2025, no substantial progress has been made,” Mr Lawal said.

He said JAC was thus compelled to commence an indefinite strike, demanding responses to all the demands for negotiations.

“We are also demanding an increase in the subvention released to the institutions to enable them to meet their financial obligations, including the payment of the approved wage structure.

“We urge all members to stand unitedly and participate fully in this strike action.

“We also appeal to His Excellency, Engr. Oluseyi Makinde, governor of Oyo State, to intervene and ensure that the welfare of workers in our state-owned tertiary institutions is prioritised by our respective institutions,” he said.

Meanwhile, rectors of the affected institutions on Monday appealed to the aggrieved unions to shelve the strike.

Their appeal was disclosed in a statement by the spokesperson for The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Soladoye Adewole.

According to the statement, the appeal was made by rectors of The Polytechnic, Ibadan; Adeseun Ogundoyin Polytechnic, Eruwa, and The Okeogun Polytechnic, Saki.

Others include rectors of The College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora, and The Oyo State College of Education, Lanlate.

The statement revealed that the rectors met with representatives of the industrial unions, asking for more time for further negotiation and consultation.

“The authorities of the institutions noted that strike action, as of now, is ill-timed and will disrupt activities in the various institutions as well as efforts being made on consultations and negotiations.

“The authorities further noted that it would be appreciated if the unions considered the negative effects such a strike would have on the students and the neighbourhood hosting the institutions.

“The chairman of the Joint Action Committee of industrial unions in the tertiary institutions, Dr Kola Lawal, assured the authorities of the institutions that, being representatives of the unions, an online meeting would be held with their executives and members to consider the appeal made by the authorities of the various institutions,” the statement read.

(NAN)