Lecturers under the aegis of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) at Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo State, yesterday withdrew their services over the non-payment of 13 months’ salary owed them by the management of the institution.
The lecturers, who vowed not to participate in the first-semester examination scheduled to begin on June 13, 2023, decried the manner in which they were being treated.
A communiqué signed by the union’s chairman, Ade Arikawe, and Secretary, Damilola Fapetu, at the end of a congress held in the institution, stated that they unanimously agreed to withdraw their services until the institution and Ondo State government meet their demands.
The union observed that the current price of fuel has added to the hardship their members were experiencing, calling on the management of the institution and the state government to pay their outstanding salaries without delay.
The communiqué read: “After much emphasis and extensive deliberation, the Congress unanimously agreed to withdraw the services of members from participating in the scheduled first-semester examination exercise, which is proposed to commence on June 13, 2023, until the condition below is met.
“Before arriving at the decision, we observed that the hardship and challenges of the current price of fuel on our members and attendance at their official duties are making it extremely difficult.
“We want the payment in full of all outstanding (13 months) salary arrears owned by the staff of the institution.
“The congress wishes to strongly emphasise that the decision above is binding on all the financial members of the union (ASUP).”