The workers’ unions of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, have commenced an indefinite strike to press home their demand for the implementation of the new national minimum wage introduced by the Federal Government in 2019.

The unions, which comprise of Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, announced the industrial action after a joint congress held on Monday.

Academic activities at the institution after the Christmas and new year break were scheduled to resume on Monday with the commencement of first semester examinations for the 2019/2020 session all of which had been disrupted.

The Chairman of Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics, Polytechnic Ibadan chapter, Biodun Abegunde in a statement disclosed that the unions were forced to embark on industrial action because the matter was beyond the school’s management and needs to be addressed urgently.

Abegunde revealed that the unions were demanding the implementation of the new minimum wage and the removal of a consultant in charge of the school finances to give room to financial autonomy for the institution.

He added that the unions want the council of the institution to be the ones running the affairs of The Polytechnic, Ibadan not the other way round.

When contacted for the reaction of the institution‘s management, the Public Relations Officer, Soladoye Adewole, said the Registrar, Modupe Theresa Fawole, would issue a statement on the matter before the close of work today.

As at the time of filing this report, the management is yet to react to the claim by the unions.