Academic activities at Ibarapa Polytechnic in Eruwa, Oyo State, were paralysed yesterday as the institution’s aggrieved workers started an indefinite strike over non-payment of 24 months’ salary and other entitlements by the state government.
Also affected by the non-payment of salary are: Oke-Ogun Polytechnic in Saki and The Polytechnic in Ibadan.
The protesting workers allegedly chased out students and workers from the classrooms and offices.
The protesters, who included members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP) and Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), also locked the gates to the polytechnic and instructed students not to come to the school.
They warned that no one would attend to them should they show up at the institution.
A source, who spoke on phone with our reporter, said the workers chased away the students and declared an indefinite strike.
The source said: “Yes, the workers in Ibarapa Polytechnic Eruwa today embarked on indefinite strike. It started yesterday, they had informed the students not to come to the school today and when the students came they locked the gates and declared an indefinite strike.
“You can see in the pictures the students are locked outside. The workers are protesting against non-payment of their salaries for several months.”
NASU’s Chairman at the polytechnic, Ibrahim Akande, confirmed the commencement of the indefinite strike when he addressed reporters.
He warned that the Polytechnic, Ibadan, will also join the strike if the situation is not brought under control by the state government.
Akande said: “Yes, I can confirm to you that SSANIP and NASU members at the Ibarapa Polytechnic in Eruwa have declared an indefinite strike over non-payment of their salary and other entitlements running to between eight and 24 months.
“It varies. As at the last time that we met, it was between eight and 24 months. You can see that Oke-Ogun Polytechnic in Saki is also on strike. They are currently on strike due to non-payment of their salary and other entitlements. SSANIP and NASU members in Saki are on strike too. Others are about to join.
“So, you can see that a strike is looming in all the tertiary institutions in Oyo State. That of The Polytechnic in Ibadan is also looming. We are still waiting. It is only The Polytechnic in Ibadan that is not on strike now. Yes, I can confirm to you.”