Workers of The Polytechnic Ibadan have voiced out their dissatisfaction over the alleged non readiness of the state government to fully implemented the minimum wage.
At the meeting of the members of staff held on Friday, 18th December, 2020, it was reported that the state government has refused to implement the enhanced salary for workers in tertiary institutions.
NASU Chairman, Comrade Ibrahim Akande noted that the table proposed by the state government is alien to the Polytechnic system, as it included Peculiar Allowance and Earned Allowance, which are only obtainable in the College of Education while Housing Allowance was removed from the salaries.
He emphasized that the workers are not negotiating a new salary, rather asking for an increment of the basic salaries of staff, as proposed by the National Wages and Salaries Commission, and accepted by the National Board of Technical Education (NBTE). He observed that some State Polytechnics have been enjoying the new rates, and that workers of The Polytechnic Ibadan deserve the best, as their efforts have led to the Institution being rated among the best in the country
Comrade Biodun Abegunde, Chairman of SSANIP noted that it was illegal for the state government to draw up a table without the involvement of the Governing Council, which is the employer of all staff.
Immediate Past Chairman of SSANIP, Comrade Gbenga Akinola noted that there had never been a time when workers of all institutions earn the same salaries. He noted that the proposed removal of Housing Allowance will have an effect on the gratuities and pensions, hence should be resisted lest it leads to a lifetime slavery.
In the reaction of a member of staff, he noted other issues such as high taxation should be addressed, as they are being taxed much more than their contemporaries. He said that negotiations should be done with the Governing Council.
Another member of staff noted that the congressional representatives at the Governing Council should brief the staff on what the council is doing to implement the minimum wage. He noted that the Council is central to the issue, but it seems the Council isn’t up to its responsibilities which neccesitated Union Leaders meeting with government officials. He noted that 2019 promotion exercise was delayed for almost a year due to the non-composition of the Governing Councils, and wondered why the state Government is passing over the council on the issue of minimum wage.
The assembly constituted a negotiation team to join the Union Leaders to interphase with the Governing Council, towards an amicable settlement, failure of which industrial action is inevitable.
The Communique released after the meeting read thus:
COMMUNIQUÉ ON THE MEETING OF STAFF OF THE POLYTECHNIC, IBADAN ON FRIDAY 18TH DECEMBER, 2020 AT THE CONFERENCE CENTRE, THE POLYTECHNIC IBADAN
Preamble
The members of Staff of The Polytechnic, Ibadan met on Friday, 18th December, 2020. The following are the matters observes:
The Governing Council of the Institution is the only body known to the law that is saddled with discussion of salary and emoluments matters and not the Ministry of Education or any of its agents.
Oyo State Government is acting in the breach of the Edict and Laws that established The Polytechnic, Ibadan by alienating the Governing Council in its rightful duties.
The so-called Oyo State Tertiary Education Salary scale published by Oyo State government is an absurdity as National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) is the regulatory body for Polytechnic Education in Nigeria, therefore, it is odd, absurd and repulsive that a scale of salary is put up by Oyo State Government for workers in The Polytechnic, Ibadan.
Collapsing the Salary Scales of both Polytechnics and College of Education in Oyo state as a single document without recognizing the earlier unique nature of these Institutions and peculiarities of their salary scales is a grave error on the part of Oyo State Government. it is unprecedented.
National Salaries and Wages Commissions table specification on Basic Salary of thirty thousand naira (N30,000.00) Minimum wage should be upheld as it is on thing that calculations of statutory allowances are made. Oyo State Government has ignored this by deviating.
The oddious draft of Oyo State Tertiary Education Salary Scale has struck out Housing Allowance for workers in The Polytechnic, Ibadan.
It is observed that a Salary Table from all institution of comparable status in Nigeria captures Basic and Rent allowances. These are used in calculating Pension and Gratuity, thus anything at variance with this is not acceptable to the workers of The Polytechnic, Ibadan.
It is imperative for the Governing Council of The Polytechnic, Ibadan to commence without further delay, the implementation of the consequential Salary Adjustment as a result of the implementation of the National Minimum Wage nationally.
Comrade ’Biodun Abegunde
SSANIP Chairman
Comrade Akande Ibraheem
NASU Chairman
Mrs. T.M. Oyebola
Rept. Teaching Staff
