0

Workers at Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (RUGIPO) can now heave a sigh of relief as the backlog of their salaries has been paid by the state government.

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has brought to an end the era of percentage salary payment in the state, assuring workers of his administration’s commitment to prompt and full salary payment across all state-owned tertiary institutions.

He made the declaration on Saturday, during the combined 12th–23rd convocation ceremony of the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo.

The governor disclosed that his administration had cleared 10 months out of the 13-month salary arrears inherited from previous administrations and had approved the payment of the remaining three months’ arrears.

Declaring his resolve to end owing workers’ salaries, Aiyedatiwa described the era of percentage salary payment as a dark and painful chapter in the history of the institution and the state workforce.

He said: “Let me first acknowledge and commend the late sage and visionary, Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin, for his efforts at midwifing this institution. The Sunshine State and, indeed, Nigeria will forever remain proud of him.

“It gladdens my heart that today, there are several products of this Polytechnic who have distinguished themselves in various areas of human endeavour across the globe.

“We were visibly disturbed to learn that the last time this institution held a convocation was in 2013. I made it clear that it was unacceptable and directed that the situation be remedied immediately.

“While commending the Acting Rector and his management team for acting promptly, such must never be allowed to happen again.”

Upon assuming office as Acting Governor and later substantive Governor, Aiyedatiwa disclosed that the most daunting challenge confronting the polytechnic was the backlog of 13 months’ salary arrears.

He said: “Realizing that no meaningful teaching and learning could take place in a tertiary institution where workers are owed humongous salaries, our administration took decisive steps to address the challenge.

“In three separate instances, we approved and released Special Intervention Funds for the payment of outstanding salaries for three months.

“The State Government took another step by approving a substantial increase in the monthly subvention for the Polytechnic, as applicable to other state-owned tertiary institutions, effective from January 2024.

“To the glory of God, it is gratifying that Rufus Giwa Polytechnic now pays full salaries to its workers.”

The governor, therefore, commended the patience and understanding of both students and staff, especially the three workers’ unions of the polytechnic, for opting for dialogue instead of strikes while the government worked on addressing the crisis.

He, however, acknowledged reports of alleged administrative injustices in the past and said the state had begun reviewing such cases to ensure fairness, justice, and equity.

Governor Aiyedatiwa reiterated his administration’s determination to reposition education in the state, challenging tertiary institutions to focus on producing job creators rather than job seekers.

He reaffirmed the planned transformation of the institution, saying his government is commitment to upgrading the Polytechnic to a full-fledged University of Agriculture and Agro-Business.

Appreciating the Federal Government through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for infrastructural development support, urging alumni of the institution, corporate bodies, and philanthropists to complement government’s efforts.

He also encouraged all tertiary institutions in the state to embrace innovation and entrepreneurship to expand their internally generated revenue(IGR) base.

Meanwhile, the Acting Rector of the polytechnic, Mr Olorunwa Adegun, commended the governor’s interventions, describing the period before his emergence as one of hopelessness and hardship.

“Before Your Excellency came on board, workers were owed 13 months’ salary arrears, and some received as low as five per cent. The hardship led to deaths and low morale among staff. But your intervention has changed the story,” Adegun said.

Speaking in the impact of Governors Aiyedatiwa’s intervention on the institution, he disclosed that 68 academic programmes have been accredited, the staff schools has been reopened and funding of the long-delayed convocation.

The polytechnic conferred on the governor an honorary award of fellowship of the institution.

Some infrastructural projects in the institution were also inaugurated.