Oyo State-owned tertiary institutions’ workers downed tools again last Monday over unpaid wage increments. YINKA ADENIRAN looks at the issues surrounding the strike and its implications for students.
The ongoing strike by Oyo State Government-owned tertiary institutions, which started on Monday, has thrown the state education sector into chaos. It has left students idle and uncertain about their future. Although, some of the institutions are allowed to conclude ongoing exams, those not writing exams are not attending classes.
Background of the strike
At the heart of the strike are issues such as poor funding, inadequate infrastructure, and unpaid salaries. The institutions, which include: The Polytechnic Ibadan, Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igbo-ora, and Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo, among others, have been grappling with these challenges for years. The ongoing strike is the fifth time the institutions would be embarking on strike in the last three years.
History of strikes
In 2022, the institutions went on strike for three months over unpaid salaries and poor funding. The strike was called off after the state government agreed to pay the outstanding salaries and provide funds for infrastructure.
However, the agreement was not fully implemented, leading to another strike in 2023. The strike lasted for two months before it was called off. The institutions again embarked on strike in 2024 over the same issues, and the strike lasted for one month.
The current strike, which started in February, has been on for over two months. The institutions’ workers are demanding the payment of outstanding salaries, improved funding, and infrastructural growth.
Precisely last Monday, the umbrella body of the workers unions under the aegis of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Oyo State declared an indefinite strike starting same day over the non-implementation of the approved 25 to 35 percent salary increase and the new minimum wage.
The strike affects five state-owned institutions namely: The Polytechnic, Ibadan; The Oke-Ogun Polytechnic, Saki; Adeseun Ogundoyin Polytechnic, Eruwa; Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora; and Oyo State College of Education, Lanlate.
The JAC Chairman, Dr. Kola Lawal, and Secretary, Com. Fatai Abiola, in a statement issued to announce the strike, expressed frustration over the prolonged delay in implementing the wage adjustments despite multiple engagements with institution heads, Platinum Consultants, and the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Salihu Adelabu.
Incidentally, the unions previously staged a two-day warning strike on February 6 and 7, and later granted a final three-day extension on March 5. But, no resolution was reached.
JAC, in the statement, noted that while federal institutions and some state-owned universities such as Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) and Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, have implemented the salary increase, their members continue to face financial hardship.
According to the union, rising living costs, coupled with career-related expenses such as attending conferences and publishing research papers, have placed additional strain on workers, saying the situation is negatively impacting morale and the overall quality of education in the affected institutions.
The unions, however, called on Governor Seyi Makinde to intervene and ensure immediate implementation of the new minimum wage, the 25 to 35 percent salary increase and an increase in subventions to the institutions.
Union’s demands
According to Lawal, the decision to embark on strike was reached after extensive deliberations and consultations among the unions, following the inability of the management of the affected institutions to address the longstanding issues of non-implementation of the approved 25/35 per cent salary increase being enjoyed by their colleagues in other institutions since January 2024 and the new minimum wage for workers in the Polytechnics and College of education sector.
He said: “Despite numerous efforts, meetings and notices, on the 25/35 per cent salary increase since January 2024 and also including several meetings with the heads of institutions, representatives of Platinum Consultants, and the Commissioner for Education since the declaration in January 2024 of the approval of new minimum wage payment by Governor Seyi Makinde, coupled with declaration of industrial dispute on the new minimum wage, as well as a two-day warning strike on February 6 and 7, 2025, no meaningful progress has been made towards resolving the issues.
“The unions gave several notices and ultimatums up till March 5th, 2025, when the unions granted the final three days additional time for resolution, considering the recent accreditation exercises in some of the institutions, but regrettably, no concrete action has been taken by the authorities.
“The inability to implement the approved wage structure, which has already been enjoyed by workers in federal institutions and some state-owned institutions like Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) and Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, has left our members in a dire situation.
“This strike action is a last resort, taken after exhausting all avenues for dialogue and negotiation. We urge Governor Makinde, lover of workers and education, to intervene and ensure that the welfare of workers in the state-owned tertiary institutions is prioritised by our respective management. Education is the bedrock of societal development, and the welfare of those who contribute to it must not be relegated to the background.”
Rectors’ reaction
When the workers of the Oyo State-owned tertiary institutions called for a strike, the Rectors of the institutions expressed a mix of understanding and concern. Although, they expressed understanding for the grievances of the workers, they were more concerned about the impact of the strike on the academic calendar and the institutions as a whole. They called for a speedy resolution to the issues that led to the strike, in order to minimise the disruption to academic activities.
In a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer, The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Mr. Soladoye Adewole, the rectors were united in appealing to the aggrieved unions to shelve the strike, noting that the strike was not only ill-timed, it would also disrupt activities in the various institutions as well as efforts being made on consultations and negotiations.
Soladoye, in his statement, disclosed 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 a 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.”
Also, The Rector of Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igbo-ora, Dr. Gbemiga Adaramola, expressed similar sentiments. “We understand the grievances of our workers, but we are worried about the impact of the strike on our students and the institution as a whole,” he said.
The Provost of Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo, Dr. Rasheed Akinade, said the management of the institution was working to resolve the issues that led to the strike. “We are committed to finding a solution to the problems that led to the strike, and we are working closely with the government and the workers’ unions to achieve this,” he said.
Efforts to broker a truce
When contacted, the JAC Chairman, Dr Lawal said as the strike enters its second day, the leadership or JAC had a productive meeting with the government team on Tuesday. He said the meeting was with the rectors of the institutions, and it was mediated by Platinum Consultants.
He said two resolutions were reached at the meeting and they include: the immediate implementation of new minimum wage and salary increase as well as arrears of payment of new salary structure.
Additionally, he said, despite these steps, the Joint Action Committee held an emergency meeting late Tuesday evening to assess the situation further, adding that during the meeting, it was concluded that certain documentations are still required between the unions and the management of the institutions to finalise the details of the agreement.
With the situation, the chairman said on Tuesday, the meeting was suspended until today, to allow all parties time to resolve the issues at stake.
“It is important to note that the Joint Action Committee and all labour unions within it are not political. Our focus remains solely on the welfare of our members within the legal framework of the law. We strongly dissociate ourselves from any political undertones or colourations that may be associated with our genuine and legitimate demands from our managements and government.
“Our actions and decisions are driven by the desire to secure the well-being of our members and improve the working conditions within our institutions, and not by any partisan interests,” he said.
Impact on students
As the strike continues, the students are the ones who bear the brunt. The strike has disrupted academic activities, leaving students idle and uncertain about their future. “I am supposed to graduate this year, but the strike has disrupted everything,” said a final-year student at Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo. “I don’t know when I will graduate now.”
The strike has also had a negative impact on the economy of the state. Many businesses around the institutions have been affected, with some shutting down temporarily.
State govt reacts
The state government said it is sensitive to the plight of the workers and is working to resolve what led to the industrial action.
Reacting when contacted, the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Salihu Adelabu, said the state government has commenced the payment of a new subvention since January 2025 so that the educational institutions can meet their obligations.
He explained that the bone of contention was because the tertiary institutions staff are public servants and not civil servants, and as such, the payment of their salaries is through their institutions and not directly from the government.
Prof. Adelabu added that the issue of 25 per cent increments for junior staff, 35per cent increments for senior staff and the minimum wage had been the bone of contention.
He said: “The Oyo State Government is sensitive to the plight of the staff of tertiary institutions even before the proposed and ongoing strike.
“The state government has started the payment of the new subvention since January 2025 so that the institutions can meet their financial obligations.
“Since tertiary institutions staff are public servants and not civil servants, their salaries are paid through their institutions. The issue of 25% increments for junior staff, 35% increments for senior staff and the minimum wage had been the bone of contentions.
“The state government, under the leadership of Governor Seyi Makinde, has met with the leadership of tertiary institutions, and the minimum wage was agreed upon, and it has already been paid.
“The increment is yet to be finalised because heads of tertiary institutions have been saddled with the computation and compilation of the new salary structure after which they will meet with the government to fashion a way forward on it.
“Hence, the government is not folding its arms on the agitation of the workers, and all hands are on deck to have a lasting solution to the issue.
“The tertiary institutions workers are hereby enjoined to be patient with their heads of institutions as their request will be adequately reviewed and implemented as appropriate.”
The way forward
Education stakeholders want the state government to take urgent steps to address the issues facing the institutions and find a lasting solution to the recurring strikes. They said the students and staff of the institutions deserve better, and it is the government’s duty to provide them with a conducive learning environment.
“As the saying goes, when two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. In this case, the students are the grass suffering from the fight between the state government and the institutions’ staff. It is time for the government to take responsibility and find a lasting solution to the crisis,” a stakeholder said.
