Ekiti poly workers begin three-day strike over unpaid allowances, promotion arrears
By Boye Oyeyemi
Non-teaching staff of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, are set to embark on a three-day warning strike from Monday, 16 November, over unpaid allowances and outstanding promotion benefits.
Subsequently, the planned industrial action was announced by the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics, Ado-Ekiti branch, following the Federal Government’s failure to implement agreements on workers’ welfare and settle outstanding entitlements.
Explaining the rationale behind the move, the branch Chairman, Comrade Sunday Akomolafe, who also serves as the union’s South-West zonal secretary, said the decision was taken after a 14-day ultimatum issued to the government expired without a satisfactory response.
Furthermore, Akomolafe noted that although an agreement reached with the government on 3 September 2026, following negotiations by the Yayale Ahmed-led committee, provided for the payment of certain allowances, the workers had yet to receive the benefits despite assurances that funds had been released.
Consequently, he faulted what he described as the unequal treatment of teaching and non-teaching employees, pointing out that academic staff had received outstanding payments covering 10 months alongside salary adjustment arrears dating back to January 2023, while their non-teaching counterparts remained unpaid.
In a bid to resolve the impasse, the union’s vice-chairman, Comrade Motunrayo Akintade, appealed to President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, to intervene and ensure that the outstanding payments were made, warning that continued delays could trigger further industrial unrest.
Similarly, the acting branch secretary, Kunle Olaifa, disclosed that payment had been stalled by the absence of the necessary circular and approval from the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, adding that some members were owed promotion benefits dating back to 2022 despite the minister’s claim that funds had been released to institutions.
Meanwhile, the union called on the Federal Government to honour its agreements and clear the outstanding allowances, salary adjustments and promotion arrears, warning that failure to address the demands could severely disrupt activities at the institution.
