MAK Poly, Saki: Seven Years of Prolonged Casualisation and the Troubling Reality of Neglected Workers || By David Oluokun
Over 300 workers reportedly earn N50,000 monthly amid prolonged employment freeze:
The persistent casualisation of workers at Michael Koleosho Polytechnic (MAK Poly), Saki — formerly known as The Oke-Ogun Polytechnic — has become a troubling reflection of the challenges confronting public tertiary education in Oyo State.
What is particularly disturbing is the prolonged nature of the arrangement, which has left hundreds of workers uncertain about their employment status despite years of dedicated service to the institution.
Since 2019, the situation has continued to generate concern among stakeholders, particularly as successive years have passed without a clearly defined policy framework for transitioning qualified casual workers into regular employment.
Available information indicates that the institution’s reliance on casual workers predates 2019.
By November 2026, the number of casual workers is reportedly in excess of 300.
For me, this is no longer an issue that can be dismissed as a temporary administrative inconvenience. It has evolved into a serious institutional and labour welfare concern that requires urgent intervention.
How can a government-owned tertiary institution continue to depend on the services of workers for several years without providing a clear pathway towards regularisation?
I appreciate that financial constraints may have influenced the initial decision to engage casual workers across various departments, directorates, faculties and administrative units. However, an arrangement that was perhaps conceived as a temporary measure should not become a permanent employment structure.
The fundamental question remains: what has prevented the institution and the Oyo State Government from addressing this situation since 2019?
More importantly, what justification exists for allowing workers who have consistently discharged their responsibilities to remain in perpetual employment uncertainty?
*Disparity in government employment policy*
My concern is further heightened by the apparent disparity in the treatment of workers across different sectors of the Oyo State public service.
The state government has reportedly undertaken recruitment and regularisation exercises in sectors such as local government administration, health, and primary and secondary education.
Why should workers in the tertiary education sector appear to be receiving less consideration?
I believe employees of Michael Koleosho Polytechnic deserve equal attention. Their contributions to teaching, research, administration and institutional development are indispensable to the survival and advancement of the institution.
Information available to me also suggests that vacancies exist across some lower cadres, while certain academic departments have experienced an imbalance in their staffing structures.
In some instances, the institution reportedly has Chief Lecturers and Principal Lecturers, while other lower academic cadres remain inadequately staffed.
Similarly, some administrative units and directorates are said to depend substantially on casual personnel, notwithstanding the institution’s continued conduct of promotion exercises.
This raises legitimate questions about workforce planning, recruitment priorities and the long-term manpower development strategy of the institution.
Promotions are undoubtedly important, but they cannot substitute for fresh appointments where genuine vacancies exist.
*The N50,000 remuneration controversy*
Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of the situation is the reported decision of the institution’s management, under the leadership of the Rector, Dr ESV Ajibola, to peg the monthly remuneration of casual workers at N50,000, irrespective of their qualifications, professional experience and responsibilities.
I consider this particularly troubling in view of prevailing economic realities.
How does the management expect workers to cope with the rising cost of living on N50,000 monthly, especially when the national minimum wage has been established at N70,000?
Although the management has reportedly cited financial constraints as a major obstacle to improving workers’ remuneration, I do not believe that inadequate funding should become a perpetual justification for overlooking the welfare of employees.
If the institution lacks the financial capacity to meet its obligations, the state government must demonstrate the political will to intervene.
The welfare of workers should not be treated as an optional component of institutional administration.
*What happened to the promised intervention?*
I am equally concerned about reports that efforts to draw the governor’s attention to the plight of the affected workers were met with the observation that their appointments were political.
Even if political considerations influenced their initial engagement, should that automatically invalidate the years of service they have rendered to a government-owned institution?
The more important considerations should be their qualifications, the necessity of their services, the existence of genuine vacancies and compliance with established public service regulations.
If there were irregularities in the original recruitment process, the appropriate authorities should undertake a transparent review and establish a lawful framework for resolving them.
Keeping hundreds of workers in prolonged uncertainty cannot constitute a sustainable solution.
*The Polytechnic, Ibadan comparison*
The recent development at The Polytechnic, Ibadan, where some casual workers reportedly received regular appointment letters, has further strengthened the argument for urgent intervention at MAK Poly.
I welcome every genuine effort aimed at improving workers’ conditions of service and providing employment security.
However, I cannot help asking why a similar intervention appears elusive at Michael Koleosho Polytechnic.
Why should employees performing comparable responsibilities in two state-owned tertiary institutions experience significantly different employment realities?
The state government must explain the policy considerations guiding these differences and demonstrate that workers across its tertiary institutions are being treated equitably.
Responsibility of the Governing Council
I also believe the Governing Council of the institution must accept its share of responsibility for the prolonged situation.
From information available to me, the institution has continued to conduct promotion exercises over the years, but corresponding efforts towards fresh regular appointments appear inadequate.
A Governing Council is expected to provide strategic direction, effective oversight and policy guidance. Its responsibilities should extend beyond routine administrative approvals to addressing fundamental challenges affecting the institution’s workforce and overall development.
The Council should therefore work with the management and relevant government authorities to conduct a comprehensive manpower audit, identify existing vacancies and establish a realistic recruitment and regularisation framework.
Infrastructure and institutional funding:
Beyond the issue of casualisation, I am equally concerned about the level of infrastructural development directly facilitated by the Oyo State Government at the institution since 2019.
From the information available to me, several recent developments have depended substantially on interventions from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and initiatives pursued by the institution’s management.
The ongoing ICT Centre project is one development that deserves closer attention.
Concerns have reportedly been raised about the involvement of consultants, including allegations relating to fund withdrawals and the pace of project execution.
These concerns should not be treated as established findings without proper verification. Nevertheless, the relevant authorities owe stakeholders a comprehensive explanation of the project’s funding arrangements, payments made, work executed and outstanding obligations.
Transparency and accountability remain indispensable to public confidence in the management of institutional resources.
I also consider it important to acknowledge the sacrifices of lecturers and other members of staff who, according to information available to me, have repeatedly contributed personal resources towards statutory assignments and other institutional responsibilities.
Their commitment to the survival and progress of the polytechnic is commendable. However, it is unfortunate that employees should have to shoulder financial responsibilities that ought ordinarily to be supported by adequate institutional funding.
Acknowledging management’s efforts without overlooking the challenges*
I must acknowledge the efforts of the Rector, Dr ESV Ajibola, particularly in the discharge of statutory responsibilities and the pursuit of initiatives intended to advance the institution.
Some stakeholders reportedly consider him a progressive-minded administrator who is committed to the institution’s development.
Nevertheless, the capacity of any Rector to deliver meaningful transformation is significantly influenced by the availability of funds, government support and the effectiveness of the institution’s governing structure.
Acknowledging management’s efforts should, however, not foreclose constructive scrutiny of its policies, especially those relating to workers’ welfare, recruitment and remuneration.
Institutional progress must be measured not only by physical projects and administrative achievements but also by the quality of working conditions enjoyed by the people responsible for sustaining the institution.
2027: Time for government to act
With the 2027 general elections approaching, I believe the Oyo State Government must demonstrate that workers’ welfare is more than a recurring subject of political rhetoric.
The plight of over 300 casual workers at Michael Koleosho Polytechnic deserves urgent and decisive attention.
I am not advocating indiscriminate regularisation without due process, consideration of available vacancies, financial implications and the requirements of the public service.
Rather, I am calling for a comprehensive manpower audit, a transparent assessment of existing casual appointments and a clearly defined framework for absorbing qualified workers who have rendered years of meritorious service to the institution.
The government must also address the institution’s funding challenges, while the Governing Council and management should provide clear explanations regarding recruitment policies, remuneration structures and infrastructural development.
The issue goes beyond the N50,000 reportedly paid to casual workers monthly. It concerns institutional justice, administrative responsibility, workers’ dignity and the value government places on the people who sustain its public institutions.
It is difficult to justify a situation in which individuals dedicate more than a decade of their productive lives to a government-owned institution and remain trapped in casual employment without a clear pathway to regularisation.
Michael Koleosho Polytechnic deserves better. Its workers deserve better. The Oyo State Government must rise to this responsibility and demonstrate the political will required to bring an end to this prolonged employment uncertainty.
David Oluokun is The BSA VOICE OF REASON MEDIA Coordinator.
