Staff of the Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology (OYSCATECH), Igboora, have commenced an indefinite strike over the persistent issues of delayed and fractional salary payments. The industrial action, which officially began on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, was declared by the institution’s three major staff unions under the Joint Action Committee (JAC), comprising the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP), and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU).
According to a joint statement signed by Comrade Tajudeen Adeyemo (NASU), Comrade Oyediran S.O. (SSANIP), and Comrade Tiamiyu M.B. (ASUP), the strike followed months of appeals and correspondences to the institution’s management, which failed to yield any improvement in staff welfare. The unions said the final trigger for the strike was a memo issued by the management announcing its inability to pay June salaries in full, despite earlier promises.
The unions expressed frustration that, despite a 25% increase in the institution’s monthly subvention from the Oyo State Government since January 2025—meant to reflect the new national minimum wage—staff continue to receive salaries in fractions. They also noted that school fees for new students were increased by 100%, and internal revenue sources had been reviewed upward, yet the financial condition of staff remains unchanged.
The workers stated that OYSCATECH is the only tertiary institution in Oyo State that consistently faces such severe salary challenges, including a backlog of unpaid allowances, promotion arrears, and other entitlements.
“In May 2025, we embarked on a three-day warning strike after only a fraction of staff salaries was paid. Unfortunately, management still failed to settle the balance,” the statement read.
The unions appealed to Governor Seyi Makinde to urgently intervene and rescue the institution from its deepening financial crisis. They called for a further upward review of the institution’s monthly subvention to ensure sustainable operations and restore staff morale.
“As we approach another payday at the end of July, there is growing concern that the same situation will repeat itself. This indefinite strike is our last resort to demand justice and fair treatment,” the union leaders added
