By  Joseph Omolade

Editor Rainat Ilemobayo


Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP),Rufus Giwa Polytechnic on Monday shut the main gate of the institution in protest over the alleged non-implementation of the approved national minimum wage.


The peaceful protest, which took place on February 16, 2026, saw members of the Academic Staff Union and other staff unions blocking the entrance of the institution, preventing vehicles from gaining access to the campus.


Speaking with journalists during the protest, the Chairman of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP), RUGIPO Branch, Comrade Saka Olugundoye Nurudeen, said the action became necessary after several attempts to engage the authorities yielded no positive results.


According to him, the union had formally notified relevant security agencies, including the Nigeria Police and the State Security Service, about the planned peaceful protest.


“We are here today for a peaceful protest. We have written to the concerned authorities, including security agencies, to inform them about this action,” he said.


Comrade Olugundoye explained that the protest was triggered by both internal and external welfare issues affecting staff members. He noted that promotion exercises had not been carried out as expected, while the more pressing concern was the failure to implement the approved national minimum wage.


He traced the history of minimum wage adjustments in Nigeria, stating that it increased from ₦18,000 in 2011 to ₦30,000 in 2019, with additional increments announced in subsequent years, including the latest ₦70,000 minimum wage approved in 2024. However, he alleged that none of these increments had been implemented for staff of the polytechnic.


“As we speak, the Polytechnic is still operating on the ₦18,000 minimum wage, which has long been abandoned. In today’s economic reality, ₦18,000 cannot sustain a family of three, not to talk of four,” he said.


He further stated that, other categories of workers in Ondo State had begun receiving the updated minimum wage since October 2024, while RUGIPO staff were yet to benefit from the implementation.


“My counterpart in the same state earns ₦70,000, while I still earn ₦18,000. We go to the same market, our children attend the same schools, and we pay the same fees. We are tired,” he lamented.


The union chairman appealed to the government to fulfill its promises, emphasizing that the minimum wage is backed by law passed by the National Assembly. He stressed that the workers were not demanding extra allowances but only the approved national minimum wage.


“We are not asking for more than what is approved. We are only saying, pay us what we are entitled to,” he added.


The union disclosed that the protest would continue until Wednesday and warned that the institution might be shut down if the government fails to respond to their demands.


Two staff members who spoke during the protest, a male and a female worker, echoed similar concerns. The male staff member, who identified himself as Mr. Adeyemi, said, “We have exercised patience for years. The cost of living has increased drastically. We are only asking the government to implement the approved wage so we can meet our basic needs.”


Similarly, Mrs. Akinola, a female staff member, appealed to the authorities to act swiftly. “We are parents and breadwinners. It is difficult to survive on ₦18,000 in today’s Nigeria. We plead with the government to consider our situation and do the needful,” she said.


The union leadership stated that the protest would continue until Wednesday. They warned that if the government fails to address their demands, the institution may be shut down indefinitely.


As of the time of filing this report, management of the institution had not issued an official statement regarding the protest.