Staff of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic in Owo, Ondo State, have raised serious concerns about their deteriorating working conditions, accusing the Lucky Aiyedatiwa-led state government of neglecting the institution.
Employees claim that their welfare has sharply declined, with many struggling to survive on the outdated ₦18,000 minimum wage amid Nigeria’s growing economic challenges.
In a Save Our Soul petition, the employees detailed how the current administration has left thousands of staff financially distressed.
“Our members have practically been living from hand to mouth,” the petition stated, emphasizing that low salaries have subjected staff to “huge financial embarrassment.”
The workers called for public attention to their plight, stressing that urgent intervention is needed to prevent further social and economic consequences.
Despite several national wage revisions over the years, the petition alleges that employees of the polytechnic remain on an outdated salary scale introduced many years ago.
“Staff of the Polytechnic are still collecting ₦18,000 as minimum wage as at January 2026,” the workers said, noting that this figure is significantly below the ₦30,000 minimum wage approved in 2019 and subsequent increases for other government employees.
The staff emphasized that Rufus Giwa Polytechnic employees are the only government workers in Nigeria still earning ₦18,000, highlighting the unique severity of their situation.
Repeated appeals to the Ondo State Government to implement the national minimum wage for polytechnic staff, they claim, have been ignored.
Workers accused Governor Aiyedatiwa of deliberately excluding the polytechnic workforce from the new wage implementation, even though other state workers began receiving revised salaries in October 2024.
Adding to their grievances, staff alleged they are owed three months of salary arrears covering October, November, and December 2025.
The petition recalled that Governor Aiyedatiwa had promised to settle the arrears during the polytechnic’s combined convocation ceremony on October 25, 2025, yet the promise remains unfulfilled.
“It is only staff of the Polytechnic in the entire Ondo State, nay South West, who are still being owed outstanding salary,” the petition read.
The financial crisis has had severe social repercussions. Staff reported that landlords now refuse to rent apartments to them due to their inability to pay rent on time.
Some employees survive on “donations” and assistance from students, while others are mocked by members of the community.
“Our members are now laughing stocks in the community,” the petition noted, illustrating how the staff welfare situation has affected their dignity and living standards.
Workers also alleged long-term institutional neglect. They claimed that Rufus Giwa Polytechnic has been “practically abandoned by successive governments,” with no capital grants released for over a decade.
As a result, the institution relies heavily on interventions from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).
However, infrastructure across the campus remains “old and dilapidated,” hampering teaching and learning.
The petition further accused government officials of interfering in institutional projects, claiming that an appointed officer “arm-twisted management of the Polytechnic to collect one of the renovated male hostels sponsored by TETFund.”
Career progression has also suffered. Promotions due between 2023 and 2026 remain unresolved, with the last promotion exercise covering only 2022.
“The welfare of staff had nosedived under this present management/government,” the petition stated, underscoring how stagnation in career growth has compounded the financial strain on workers.
The crisis has begun to disrupt academic activities at the polytechnic. Non-teaching staff unions staged a five-day peaceful protest and announced plans to resume demonstrations from February 23, 2026, until their demands are met.
Meanwhile, the academic union reportedly resumed a suspended strike on February 19, 2026, citing similar welfare concerns, effectively paralysing operations at the institution.
Staff appealed for urgent public and government attention, stressing that addressing the welfare crisis is critical not only for the employees but also for the institution’s sustainability.
They warned that failure to act could lead to prolonged strikes, further compromising student learning and the reputation of the polytechnic.
The petition concludes with a plea for comprehensive reforms, including the immediate implementation of the national minimum wage for polytechnic employees, settlement of all outstanding salary arrears, and release of overdue capital grants to restore campus infrastructure.
Workers emphasized that improving staff welfare is essential to reviving morale, ensuring productivity, and safeguarding the academic future of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic.
This situation highlights a broader challenge facing tertiary institutions in Nigeria, where neglect of staff welfare not only affects employees’ livelihoods but also has a ripple effect on students and the local community.
The ongoing crisis at Rufus Giwa Polytechnic underscores the urgent need for state governments to prioritize education workers’ welfare in line with national policies.
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