Ondo Governor Aiyedatiwa Ends Salary Arrears, Vows Education Reform

Ondo State Governor, Dr. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, on Saturday, October 25, 2025, officially put an end to the prolonged salary arrears crisis affecting workers at Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, guaranteeing full and prompt payment of salaries across all state tertiary institutions.

Speaking during the combined 12th–23rd convocation of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Governor Aiyedatiwa announced the clearance of 10 months out of a 13-month salary backlog inherited from previous administrations, with approval given for the payment of the remaining three months. This decisive step marks an end to the dark period of percentage salary payments that crippled staff morale and institutional progress.

The Governor credited the late Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin for his foundational role in establishing the Polytechnic and recalled the pain endured due to wage delays, describing it as a setback no administration would allow to recur. He noted the institution’s last convocation had been in 2013, a 12-year gap that his leadership decisively rectified through proactive measures and administrative reforms.

Upon taking office, his administration confronted the daunting challenge of the 13-month salary arrears. Recognizing the toll on teaching and learning, the government released special intervention funds on three occasions to pay partial arrears and increased monthly subventions from January 2024 onwards. These actions have since enabled the Polytechnic to disburse full salaries regularly.

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Governor Aiyedatiwa praised the nylon union leaders and staff for their patience and preference for dialogue over strikes during difficult times. He also pledged to review past administrative injustices to ensure fairness going forward.

Reiterating his vision for education in Ondo State, the Governor emphasized shifting tertiary institutions toward generating entrepreneurs rather than job seekers. He reaffirmed plans to elevate Rufus Giwa Polytechnic to a full-fledged University of Agriculture and Agro-Business, with implementation already underway.

The Governor also recognized support from the Federal Government’s Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for infrastructural development and called on alumni, private sector players, and philanthropists to sustain collaborative efforts.

In his response, Acting Rector Mr. Olorunwa Adegun acknowledged the stark hardships staff faced before Governor Aiyedatiwa’s intervention, which included low morale and multiple months of unpaid salaries. He praised the governor’s leadership, highlighting accreditation successes, reopening of staff schools, and convocation funding as tangible outcomes.

During the convocation, Governor Aiyedatiwa was conferred with an honorary fellowship of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, while inaugurating newly completed infrastructure projects on campus.

This milestone restores hope and renewed vigor to the Polytechnic community and signals Ondo State’s steadfast commitment to revitalizing its education sector through sustainable reforms and investment.

Sources confirm Governor Aiyedatiwa’s intervention was pivotal in ending the 13-month salary backlog crisis and setting the stage for continued educational advancement in Ondo State