Nigeria’s Polytechnic Education in Jeopardy as Government Remains Silent on 15-Day Ultimatum

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, Zone C, comprising the South-West and Kwara State, has expressed disappointment with the government’s silence over the 15-day ultimatum issued to address some of the pressing issues affecting polytechnic education in the country.

The union’s Coordinator, Comrade Adekunle Masopa, made this known at a press briefing held at Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic, Ijebu Igbo, where he condemned the alleged undue exercise of oversight function and interference of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) with respect to admission of students into polytechnics.

According to Masopa, it is unfair for the government to have kept mute since the ultimatum was issued, saying that lecturers would not be blamed if they decide to embark on a strike at the expiration of the 15-day notice. He berated the government for not showing enough support for polytechnic education, which has the capacity to drive technological advancement in the country.

The union has identified several key areas of concern, including the failure of NBTE to comply with resolutions reached in July 2024 on the reviewed scheme of service, undue oversight function, and usurpation of power by NBTE regarding student admission into higher national diploma programs. Other concerns include non-payment of promotion arrears spanning between three to five years in federal polytechnics, recurring delays in implementation of promotion in state polytechnics, and non-implementation of 25/35% consequential salary adjustment, among others.

Masopa urged the government to resume active duty and commitment to the resolutions of the tripartite meeting held in July 2024 on the 2023 reviewed scheme of service, and to implement the 25/35% consequential salary adjustment in state polytechnics from January 2023, as well as pay one-year arrears of this salary adjustment to federal institutions without further delay.

The union also called on NBTE to desist from usurping the power of statutory bodies, particularly the Academic Board, with respect to student admission at any level, and to pay all outstanding promotion arrears.

Masopa warned that if the government fails to address these issues within the 15-day ultimatum, the union may be forced to embark on industrial action.

Present at the meeting were Chairmen of both federal and state-owned polytechnics from the South-West and Kwara States.