By Usman Aliyu
THE JOINT unions of Edo Polytechnic on Wednesday at a news conference in Benin appealed to the state government to offset the four-month salary arrears owed their members and other entitlements.
Reading their address, the chapter’s Chairman of Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Dr Akhere Ekhomun, said the last time they received salary in the institution was May.
“Edo state Government is adjudged to be one of the few states in the country that pays salaries to workers on or before 26th every month.
“Yet, the last salary received by Edo State Polytechnic workers was May 2024, paid only on the 9th of September, 2024.
“Recently, Edo State Government approved N70,000 only as minimum wage for workers.
“The core civil servants and some tertiary institutions are already enjoying this wage increase, to the exclusion of Edo State Polytechnic workers.
“Edo state Government paid 13th month salary to all workers towards the end of 2023, to the exclusion of Edo State Polytechnic staff.
“Sufficed to state here that Edo State Polytechnic staff have never benefitted from any upward review of salary wages done by Edo State Government,” he said.
The ASUP chairman also lamented that the institution, established 18 years ago, was not enjoying pension up till date.
“Our unions are aware of the lifespan of this administration, under the watch of Mr G.N Obaseki. It is gradually winding up.
“In light of the above, members will appreciate if His Excellency can use his good office to get the above-raised welfare issues demotivating and dampening the morale of workers at the polytechnic resolved as gift.
“If his swift intervention meets our expectations, the name will not only be printed with gold in the sands of time, but will forever remain indelible in the hearts and minds of all the workers,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the address was co-signed by the ASUP chairman and the secretary, Mr Shola Iyahen; Chairman of Senior Staff Association of Nigeria in the Polytechnic (SSANIP), Mr Erhunwunse.
Other signatories were: the SSANIP Secretary, Mr Sylvester Igbinowu, Chairman, Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), Mr Samson Idahosa and the Secretary, Mr Grace Edosomwan.
Efforts to get the reaction of the state government, however, yield no result as the Commissioner for Education, Dr Joan Oviawe, neither picked the call put through to her nor responded to the message. (NAN)
