The joint unions of Edo State Polytechnic, Usen, made up of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, Non-Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, NASUP, and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics, SSANP, have decried the four months’ salary arrears owed workers of the institution.
They said the last salary they received was that of May, which was only paid in September.
Flanked by other branch leaders, the Chairman of ASUP, Dr. Akhere Ekhomun disclosed this to journalists in Benin City, yesterday, as he expressed concern that staff of the institution were yet to be enjoying the new N70,000 minimum wage increase being implemented in the core civil service in the state, including previous minimum wages of previous administrations.
He said the special salary scheme for academic workers which was to encourage people to go into that area has been abandoned as they were among the least-paid workers in Edo State.
He added: “Edo State government paid the 13th month salary to all workers towards the end of 2023. Yet, Usen Poly has never benefited from an upward review of wages.
“And Usen Polytechnic is the only state government-owned establishment that is not enjoying pension.”
Ekhomun noted that the press briefing was not targeted at painting the current Edo State government image in bad light, but an appeal to Governor Godwin Obaseki to hear their cries.
According to him, “The catalogue of welfare issues afflicting the staff of the institution are significant enough to demotivate them.
“We will appreciate it if Governor Obaseki can use his good office to get the raised welfare issues demotivating Usen Poly workers resolved as a parting gift before exiting as Chief executive of Edo State.”
(Vanguard)
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