The Joint Action Committee of Ondo State-Owned Tertiary Institutions (JAC-ODSTI) has appealed to Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa to implement the 2026 Federal Government agreement with university and polytechnic-based unions.
The committee made the appeal in a communique jointly signed by its Chairman, Mr Tayo Ogungbeni, and Secretary, Mr Kunle Akinwonmi.
The communique, issued after the committee’s quarterly congress, was made available to newsmen on Friday in Okitipupa.
The congress said several unresolved issues were negatively affecting staff welfare and effective functioning of tertiary institutions in the state.
It, however, commended Aiyedatiwa for approving a N1.1 billion bailout fund for Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) to offset outstanding salary arrears owed its staff members.
The workers expressed concern over the delayed implementation of the 2026 Federal Government agreement with university and polytechnic-based unions.
“We appeal to Gov. Aiyedatuwa to immediately approve the implementation of the 2026 Federal Government agreements for state-owned tertiary workers without further delay.
“The governor should take a cue from what was done in federal and state universities, especially Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti,” the communique read.
The congress also demanded adequate funding for all state-owned tertiary institutions and the immediate release of their approved 2026 budgetary allocations.
It recalled that the governor had acknowledged that the 2025 budgetary allocations were not fully implemented and urged corrective action to prevent further institutional decline.
“It is disappointing that as of August 2026, the approved and duly signed 2026 state budget has not been implemented to tertiary institutions,” it stated.
The congress also condemned the failure of the state government and management of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic (RUGIPO), Owo, to implement the N70,000 national minimum wage.
It expressed concerns that RUGIPO workers were still receiving N18,000 minimum wage rather than monthly despite the commencement of the N70,000 minimum wage policy in 2024.
The workers also drew attention to the expiration of the tenure of governing councils of the state-owned institutions on Aug. 17.
They urged the governor to immediately reconstitute the councils with credible, proactive and selfless individuals.
The congress advised against appointing political loyalists who might treat council membership as an avenue for personal gain.
It urged the governor to appoint philanthropists and individuals willing to deploy their resources and influence toward developing the state’s tertiary education sector.
The congres said such appointments would strengthen governance, uphold the founding visions of the institutions and accelerate their development.
The unions under JAC-ODSTI include Senior Staff Union of Nigeria Universities (SSANU), Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT).
Also, the state-owned institutions are Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH), Okitipupa; University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ondo; AAUA and RUGIPO.(NAN)
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