By Duchess Ifeoluwa 

Ondo State Governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has approved the payment of three months’ salary arrears owed to workers of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, as part of efforts to resolve the lingering labour crisis in the institution.

The decision, announced on Monday, follows the governor’s intervention in the dispute between the management and the polytechnic’s staff, marking a significant relief for the affected workers.

In a separate but related development, Governor Aiyedatiwa also met with leaders of the Ondo State branch of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) in a bid to resolve the ongoing indefinite strike embarked upon by judiciary workers.

The strike, which commenced on June 13, 2025, was triggered by the state government’s delay in implementing agreed components of the Memorandum of Understanding on financial autonomy for the judiciary.

After hours of deliberation at the meeting, the governor announced the formation of a committee to work out practical modalities for the release of funds to the judiciary in line with financial autonomy principles.

The committee, to be chaired by the Commissioner for Finance, Mrs Omowumi Isaac, will include representatives from both the government and the union.

Governor Aiyedatiwa reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting the judiciary, citing ongoing reforms and improvements in welfare.

In response, the JUSUN chairman, Oluwafemi Afolabi, who led the union delegation, expressed appreciation for the governor’s initiatives, including the recent appointment of new High Court judges and the continued development of the new judiciary complex in Akure.

Afolabi also praised the governor’s prompt payment of salaries and attention to workers’ welfare, noting that the outcome of the meeting would be communicated to union members, with a view to ending the strike action.

Present at the meeting were key government functionaries including the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Taiwo Fasoranti; Chief of Staff, Prince Segun Omojuwa; Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Olukayode Ajulo, SAN; Commissioner for Finance, Mrs Omowumi Isaac; and Special Adviser on Union Matters, Comrade Bola Taiwo.