The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, (ASUP) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to assent to the bill seeking an end to the dichotomy between Higher National Diploma certificates and Bachelor’s degrees already passed by the National Assembly.
National President of ASUP, Anderson Ezeibe, made the call recently at the 16th National Delegates Conference of the union in Asaba, Delta State.
The union president frowned at what he described as discrimination against the sector, saying, “the discrimination cuts across all facets of Polytechnics. There is discrimination in funding, appropriation, allocation etc. There is discrimination concerning emolument, there is discrimination even concerning recognition. It is one thing demarketing the sector.”
According to him, the issue of disrespect for the laws in the sector was also affecting the sector negatively, noting that the appointments of those not qualified into the office of rector as a major disregard and disrespect for the law guiding the sector.
“It is a very wrong foundation and this is against the existence of a very clear provision concerning the qualifications of who should be appointed as chief executive of a polytechnic,” he said.
Ezeibe also remarked that the N15 billion revitalisation of infrastructure fund released by Mr President since June, after the industrial action embarked on by the union, has not been released six months after.
While describing some polytechnics as TETFUND polytechnics, he advised against the proliferation of polytechnics in Nigeria, adding that some of them cannot pay staff salaries and expressed worry over the type of teaching and learning going on in such institutions.
He said: “If you are not ready to fund, don’t just establish a polytechnic because you want to attract funds from TETFUND. If you want to establish a polytechnic, do that with the mind to meet the mandate, to meet the educational and technological needs of your people.”
If you want to establish a polytechnic, be ready to fund it. It is capital intensive but it is equally important to have an educated populace in your domain.”
In her speech at the opening ceremony, the Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Engr. Dr Francisca Nwafulugo described members of ASUP, Federal Polytechnic, Oko as partners in the goal of providing quality education and advancing the general wellbeing of the polytechnic.
Nwafulugo, who was the Chief Host, said she had always laboured to provide a conducive environment that will engender optimum performance from members of staff.
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