Staff unions at the Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology (OYSCATECH), Igboora, have officially called off their 24-day-old indefinite strike following assurances from the state government and newly inaugurated Governing Council members.
The industrial action, which began on July 1, was jointly declared by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP). Their demands included delayed and incomplete salary payments, outstanding allowances and promotion arrears, and concerns over insufficient subvention from the state government.
In a joint statement signed by Comrades Tajudeen Adeyemo (NASU), Oyediran S.O. (SSANIP), and Tiamiyu M.B. (ASUP), the unions said the strike was suspended in good faith after Governor Seyi Makinde’s commitment to addressing funding issues in the state’s tertiary institutions.
The unions pointed to the governor’s remarks during the July 11 inauguration of Governing Council members for all state-owned tertiary institutions. At that event, Makinde acknowledged current subvention shortfalls and promised increased support to meet salary obligations and stabilize operations.
According to the unions, appeals from the Commissioner for Education, Hon. Olusegun Olayiwola, and several Governing Council chairmen also played a role in their decision to pause the strike.
Lectures and administrative operations are scheduled to resume fully on Monday, July 21.
Despite the resolution, union leaders warned that OYSCATECH’s financial condition remains fragile. They called for a prompt review of subvention levels and stressed that internal revenue alone cannot sustain the institution’s needs.
The unions expressed gratitude to Governor Makinde for his intervention and reaffirmed their readiness to engage constructively with all stakeholders.
