…vows to complete outstanding payments, upgrade institution to university status
Ondo State Governor, Dr. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has declared a total end to the long-standing era of percentage salary payments in the state, announcing that his administration has cleared 10 out of the 13 months’ salary arrears owed workers of the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (RUGIPO), with approval granted for the remaining three months.
This was contained in a statement signed by Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, following the Governor’s remarks at the combined 12th–23rd Convocation Ceremony of the polytechnic held on Saturday, October 25, 2025.
The statement reads partly: “Upon assuming office as Acting Governor and later substantive Governor, the most daunting challenge confronting the Polytechnic was the backlog of 13 months’ salary arrears.
Realising that no meaningful teaching and learning could take place in a tertiary institution where workers are owed humongous salaries, our administration took decisive steps to address the challenge.
In three separate instances, we approved and released Special Intervention Funds for the payment of outstanding salaries for three months.
The State Government took another step by approving a substantial increase in the monthly subvention for the Polytechnic, as applicable to other state-owned tertiary institutions, effective from January 2024. To the glory of God, it is gratifying that Rufus Giwa Polytechnic now pays full salaries to its workers.
The era of percentage salary is a dark and painful chapter in the history of the institution and the state workforce, and my administration will never allow such hardship to resurface.”
Governor Aiyedatiwa also expressed deep appreciation to the founding visionary, Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin, for establishing the polytechnic, describing the institution as a pride of the Sunshine State and a source of global excellence.
He lamented that the polytechnic last held a convocation in 2013, saying the situation was unacceptable and would never be repeated under his administration.
The Governor said the intervention of his government was motivated by a desire to restore dignity, productivity, and hope among workers, adding that his administration’s education reforms are anchored on fairness, infrastructure, and sustainable funding.
Aiyedatiwa further commended the patience and resilience of both staff and students of the institution during the period of salary crisis, praising the workers’ unions for choosing dialogue over disruption.
He acknowledged reports of alleged administrative injustices in the past and assured that the government had begun reviewing such cases to ensure fairness and equity.
The Governor reaffirmed his commitment to repositioning the education sector and announced ongoing plans to upgrade Rufus Giwa Polytechnic into a University of Agriculture and Agro-Business, noting that the implementation process was already underway.
He also lauded the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for its infrastructural support and called on alumni, private investors, and philanthropists to partner with the government in sustaining the progress.
In his remarks, the Acting Rector of the polytechnic, Mr. Olorunwa Adegun, hailed Governor Aiyedatiwa’s intervention as “a turning point from despair to hope,” revealing that before the Governor assumed office, workers received as little as five per cent of their pay while morale hit its lowest point.
“Before Your Excellency came on board, workers were owed 13 months’ salary arrears, and some received as low as five per cent. The hardship led to deaths and low morale among staff. But your intervention has changed the story,” Adegun said.
Adegun further listed the accreditation of 68 academic programmes, the reopening of the staff schools, and the revival of the long-delayed convocation as evidence of the Governor’s leadership commitment.
Governor Aiyedatiwa, who was honoured with an award of fellowship by the institution, also inaugurated key infrastructural projects during the convocation ceremony.