The joint unions of Edo State Polytechnic, Usen, comprising the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Non-Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (NASUP), and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANP), have urged the state government to address the four-month salary arrears owed to workers. The last salary received was for May, paid in September.
Dr. Akhere Ekhomun, the Chairman of ASUP, addressed the media in Benin City, noting that the staff have yet to benefit from the recently implemented minimum wage increase of N70,000 for core civil servants in the state.
He emphasized that the special salary scheme intended to attract individuals to academia has been sidelined, leaving academic staff among the least compensated workers in Edo State.
“The Edo State government paid the 13th month salary to all workers towards the end of 2023. Yet, Usen Polytechnic has never benefited from an upward review of wages,” Ekhomun stated.
He also pointed out that the institution is notably the only state government establishment that lacks a pension scheme for its employees.
Ekhomun clarified that the press briefing was not aimed at negatively portraying the current Edo State government. Instead, he appealed directly to Governor Godwin Obaseki to recognize and address their grievances. “The catalogue of welfare issues afflicting the staff of the institution is 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,” he added.
The unions remain hopeful that their concerns will be met with prompt action, ensuring that the welfare of the staff is prioritized as part of a broader commitment to educational advancement in the state.
