Over 300 Saki Poly Casual Workers Lament ₦50,000 Salary, Years Without Permanent Jobs

More than 300 casual workers at the Michael Koleosho Polytechnic, Saki, formerly The Oke-Ogun Polytechnic, have reportedly remained without regular employment for years, with some earning as little as ₦50,000 monthly despite years of service.

A source familiar with the situation, who spoke in an interview with OYOINSIGHT.com but pleaded anonymity for fear of possible consequences, described the prolonged casualisation of workers at the institution as worrisome, alleging that some had been working without permanent appointments since 2011.

The source said the institution had continued to rely on casual workers across its departments, faculties, directorates and administrative units, even after it became autonomous in July 2014.

According to the source, successive batches of casual workers were engaged in 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2018, while the management has continued to recruit more workers under the arrangement.

The source attributed the situation partly to inadequate funding but questioned why a state-owned tertiary institution should continue to depend on casual staff for essential services without providing them with job security.

The source further alleged that the monthly remuneration of the workers had been pegged at ₦50,000, irrespective of their qualifications, responsibilities or years of service.

The source also accused the institution’s management, led by Dr ESV Ajibola, of failing to implement the ₦70,000 minimum wage approved by the Federal Government, citing lack of funds as the reason.

The situation, the source argued, had made it difficult for workers to cope with the rising cost of living, particularly those who had spent several years serving the institution without regular appointments.

Vacancies Exist Despite Prolonged Casualisation

The source questioned why the institution had continued to engage casual workers when vacancies allegedly existed across various cadres.

According to the source, some departments have Chief Lecturers or Principal Lecturers but lack adequate staff at lower levels, while casual workers reportedly make up a significant proportion of personnel in some directorates and units.

The source also criticised the Governing Council, alleging that its attention had largely focused on appointments and promotions exercises without making substantive appointments to fill existing vacancies.

It questioned the council’s handling of its responsibilities, arguing that regular promotions had continued over the years while the casualisation problem remained unresolved.

Makinde’s Administration Urged to Intervene

The source said efforts had previously been made to draw Governor Seyi Makinde’s attention to the situation, but alleged that the governor described the appointments of the casual workers as political.

Questioning that position, the source asked how the employment of workers to provide services in a state-owned institution could be regarded as political when they were performing duties required for the institution’s operations.

The source also cited the recent issuance of regular appointment letters to some casual workers at The Polytechnic, Ibadan, as a reason for renewed concern over the situation at Michael Koleosho Polytechnic.

It questioned why workers at the Saki institution had not received similar consideration despite the years some of them had spent in service.

The source called on the state government and the institution’s management to address the situation by regularising the appointments of qualified casual workers and filling vacant positions.

It also urged the government to extend its ongoing efforts to regularise workers in local government, health, primary and secondary education sectors to tertiary institutions across the state.

With more than 300 workers reportedly affected, the source said the prolonged uncertainty over their employment status required urgent attention from the government and the institution’s management.