…Threatens to shut down polytechnics after expiration of ultimatum

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

THE Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, yesterday issued a 15-day ultimatum to the federal government to address its grievances.

In the ultimatum which commences on Monday, October 7, 2024, the union threatened to shut down polytechnics in the country on its expiration, if government failed to address their demands.

It also accused the National Board for Technical Education, NBTE, of usurping the functions of its academic board regarding admission of students for Higher National Diploma, HND, programmes and promised not allow such to continue.

These, among others, were contained in the text of press conference read at the end of the 111th National Executive Council, NEC, meeting, held in Abuja, to review current status of its engagements with proprietors of public polytechnics, colleges of technology and monotechnics in the country.

It said the union specifically, extensively reviewed the alleged sustained reports of impunity and disrespect of clear provisions of the Federal Polytechnics Act, different edicts establishing state-owned institutions, and other instruments of governance in the sector, particularly as it affects appointment of principal officers in federal and state-owned polytechnics as well as other items of governance in polytechnics.

The union in the text read by its President, Comrade Shamnah Kpanja, noted with dismay that it had exhausted all avenues to ensure the government addressed their grievances, stressing that all efforts made were futile.

Other areas of contention were the non review of the contentious and suspended document titled schemes of service for polytechnics and the non release of conditions of service, non release of the second tranche of the NEEDS Assessment intervention funds, intrusion of the National Board for Technical Education, NBTE, into the regular functions of the Academic Boards of Polytechnics in the admission of Higher National Diploma students in the Nigerian Polytechnic System, among others.

ASUP in its resolution, said, “Following a review of the disposition of the government through the supervising ministry of education, the regulatory body and other agencies of government as well as the governing councils of some of the polytechnics to the issues outlined, the 111th NEC meeting of the Union rose with the following demands:

“Review and reversal of all decisions/ acts of impunity inconsistent with the provisions of the Federal Polytechnics Act and other instruments of governance in the sector

“Immediate commencement of the review process of the suspended document titled schemes of service for polytechnics 2023 as agreed in the tripartite meeting of July 2024.

“Release of the second tranche of the NEEDS Assessment intervention for public polytechnics and Colleges of Technology.

“Cessation of all acts purporting to undermine, duplicate or surrender the responsibilities of Academic Boards of Polytechnics in students’ admission processes to the NBTE as demonstrated by the recent launch of a students’ admission portal by the NBTE.

“Inclusion of the negotiated peculiar academic allowance in the budget against post IPPIS payment scheme/template for members.

“Immediate implementation of the approved 25/35% salary review across all public polytechnics and the payment of the accrued arrears.  Release and final resolution of the age long CONTISS 15 migration arrears for the lower cadre.

“Recommencement and completion of the ASUP/FGN 2010 agreement renegotiation process. Immediate release of the reviewed conditions of service.

“Immediate implementation of promotion in state owned institutions.

Release of outstanding promotion arrears in federal institutions and colleges of technology.

It further said, “Following the above listed demands and pursuant to our resolve to continue to advocate for a functional polytechnic education system in the country, our union hereby issues a 15 day ultimatum as required by law commencing from 7th October, 2024 to proprietors of public polytechnics for these items to be addressed or face different forms of trade dispute declaration including a possible withdrawal of service of members of our Union across the country.

“At the expiration of the 15 days ultimatum, the union’s NEC will reconvene to decide a specific and legitimate course and design of action to address the issues listed.”