Protest Rocks Ondo Poly Over Union Suspension, Rejects Government Directive

…… Says fight for Minimum Wage implementation not a crime

Tension erupted on Thursday, at Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, in Ondo State, as members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP), Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, (ASUP), staged a protest over the suspension of union activities within the institution.

The protest, led by the SSANIP Chairman of the institution’s chapter, Comrade Olokuboye Saka Nurudeen, followed a directive reportedly backed by the Ondo State Government under Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, which ordered the suspension of union operations pending administrative review.

The management of the institution had earlier confirmed the development in a statement issued by its Public Relations and Protocol Officer, Olumide Olugosi, noting that staff unions had been suspended and their leaders barred from official engagements until further notice.

The decision, according to the statement, was part of measures aimed at restoring normalcy and ensuring smooth academic and administrative operations in the polytechnic.

However, addressing journalists during the protest, Comrade Nurudeen said the union was not opposed to government policies but would resist what he described as infringement on workers’ rights.

“We are not against the government of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa. We have our legitimate rights as workers,” he said.

He acknowledged the administration’s interventions in the institution but insisted that unresolved welfare issues, particularly the implementation of the minimum wage, remained the core of the dispute.

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“The governor has done so many unprecedented things, including clearing 12 months of salary arrears and approving funds for convocation after 13 years,” he said.

“But the issue of minimum wage is what we are fighting for. This has been implemented in Ondo State since October 2024, yet staff of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic are being denied their legitimate rights.”

The SSANIP chairman alleged that the union was not properly engaged before the suspension directive was issued.

“There was no invitation for dialogue. We are not second-class workers in Ondo State. We believe the government has been misled by advisers on union matters,” he added.

He also insisted that recognised unions, including SSANIP, NASU, and ASUP, cannot be arbitrarily silenced.

“We are registered unions. The only authority that can regulate labour unions is the Registrar of Trade Unions, not state directives without due process,” he said.

Recalling the governor’s political struggles, Nurudeen said labour unions had supported him in the past and expected lawful governance in return.

“The governor is a product of struggle. In 2023, when he faced political challenges, workers in Ondo State stood by him. We are surprised that a governor who benefitted from struggle is now being advised to act against labour laws,” he stated.

The union leader warned that the action, if not reversed, could set a dangerous precedent in the state’s labour relations.

“We challenge this decision. We will continue our struggle lawfully. We have informed our national leadership, and they are in support. What is happening in RUGIPO today can happen anywhere if allowed to stand,” he said.

While urging members to remain calm and resume duties, he stressed that the union would continue to pursue its demands through legal and institutional channels.

“We advise everyone to resume work, but as a union, we will continue our engagement. We do not want division. Every worker is a member of the system, and we will challenge any injustice within the law,” he added.

The situation has heightened tension within the institution, with stakeholders calling for urgent dialogue to prevent further disruption of academic and administrative activities.