The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics — a national union representing non-academic workers across public polytechnics in Nigeria — has renewed its criticism of the Federal Government of Nigeria over what it described as prolonged neglect of critical welfare obligations owed to its members, particularly the non-payment of outstanding promotion arrears and other accumulated entitlements. Okay News reports.
The position was made known during the 78th General Executive Council meeting of the association, held on Thursday at the Comrade Olaitan Oyerinde Hall inside Labour House in Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory. The National President of the union, Philip Ogunsipe, delivered the keynote address, outlining several unresolved issues affecting the nation’s polytechnic system.
Ogunsipe asserted that the unresolved welfare matters were becoming increasingly intolerable. He stated, “The prolonged delay in the release of the new Schemes and Conditions of Service for the Polytechnic sector and the failure to conclude the renegotiation of the 2010 Agreement, despite repeated assurances by government officials.”
He continued by highlighting another major grievance, saying, “Similarly, we lament the non-release of the 2023 NEEDS Assessment Funds meant for infrastructural development in Polytechnics.”
The union president further criticised the recent action of the National Board for Technical Education — the regulatory body for polytechnic education in Nigeria — for unilaterally submitting a reviewed version of the Schemes of Service to the Federal Ministry of Education. Ogunsipe described that submission as “a deviation from agreed procedures and a serious breach of trust with labour unions.”
According to him, the arrears owed to polytechnic workers are extensive. He listed them clearly: “Some of the outstanding arrears owed to polytechnic staff include promotion arrears, twenty-five percent/thirty-five percent salary review arrears, wage award arrears, and the incomplete implementation of the new national minimum wage.”
In a direct appeal to Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Ogunsipe urged the Federal Government to prioritise intervention, warning of the potential for industrial unrest should the issues remain unaddressed.
The National Secretary of the union, Nura Gaya, also used the platform to encourage the government to take decisive steps to resolve the challenges faced by non-teaching staff within the polytechnic sector. He urged workers to remain steadfast in their duties despite the ongoing frustrations.
Similarly, the National Trustee of the union, Godwin Ikhide, advised union members to maintain high performance levels while also calling on all labour bodies to maintain unity as they pursue improved welfare conditions.
Currently, the association is intensifying advocacy efforts for the release of the new Schemes and Conditions of Service, the renegotiation of the 2010 Agreement, and the payment of all outstanding financial entitlements. It insists that the continued withholding of these obligations will only heighten tension within the system and potentially disrupt academic stability.
