TheNewsGuru

Tag: Polytechnics

  • Reps move to sanction 5 polytechnics

    Reps move to sanction 5 polytechnics

    The House of Representatives Committee on Polytechnics and Other Higher Technical Education has threatened to sanction five federal polytechnics for failing to honour its invitation to present their budget performance reports.

    Rep. Fuad Laguda, Chairman of the Committee, issued the warning on Wednesday in Abuja after the committee’s planned meeting with the institutions failed to take place.

    He said in spite inviting the management teams of five federal polytechnics, none attended the meeting scheduled for Wednesday, 20 November 2024.

    “The institutions are Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Imo State; Federal Polytechnic, Ohodo, Enugu State; Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State; Federal Polytechnic, Akanu Ibiam, Ebonyi State and Federal Polytechnic, Isuochi, Abia State.

    “This is the first time we have witnessed such regrettable behaviour from any polytechnic in Nigeria,” Laguda said.

    He explained that the committee had previously engaged with other institutions across the country, including physical visits to campuses and meetings at the National Assembly for those unable to host the committee.

    “It is shocking that these schools from the South-East have outrightly refused to honour the invitation of the National Assembly,” he added.

    Laguda further criticised the behaviour of the sole representative from the Federal Polytechnic, Isuochi, who arrived alone and without any supporting documents.

    “The meeting was scheduled for 12 o’clock, and after waiting for an hour and a half, the rector of the Federal Polytechnic in Abia State strolled in single-handedly, claiming to be attending a meeting with us, yet came completely unprepared”.

    He emphasised that the committee would invoke relevant laws empowering the National Assembly to address the situation.

    “We have engaged with other federal polytechnics across various regions, including the North-West, South-West, North-Central, and North-East, both at their campuses and at the National Assembly when necessary.

    “It is unacceptable for these institutions to disregard the same process,” he said.

    Laguda reaffirmed the committee’s commitment to ensuring accountability and adherence to due process, stating that appropriate actions would be taken against the defaulting polytechnics in due course.

    Reps to increase budgetary allocations for Federal Polytechnics in 2025 budget

    The House of Representatives say it will increase the budgetary allocations for Federal Polytechnics in Nigeria in the 2025 budget.

    The resolution followed the adoption of a motion by Rep. Danladi Aguye (APC-Kogi) during plenary on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Presenting the motion, Aguye noted that Polytechnics were established to produce middle-level manpower and technical skills in engineering and technology.

    He added that they also provide highly skilled technical knowledge to give training and impact necessary skills for the production of technicians, technologists and other skilled personnel.

    Aguye argued that in spite of rapid expansion and changes in the world of technology, polytechnic education is yet to be accorded due recognition in the country.

    He said that most of these institutions were faced with multi-faceted challenges such as a lack of training facilities and inadequately qualified human resources.

    Others, he said, include obsolete laboratories and workshops for practical activities and outdated curriculum that is devoid of 21st century skills requirements, among others.

    He said, in spite of the number of polytechnics in Nigeria, technical jobs across several sectors, especially oil and gas as well as maritime sectors, are not manned by Nigerians.

    This, according to him, is a result of the skill gap among polytechnic graduates.

    He expressed worry about inadequate funding of federal polytechnics in Nigeria, as some are being converted into universities.

    He added that China took drastic steps to convert about 600 universities to polytechnics.

    According to him, funding of polytechnic education will help bolster the country’s technological development.

    He added that it would reduce heavy importation and dependency, bringing growth and development that developed countries have attained in different sectors of the global economy.

    This, he said, was due to technological advancement, adding that polytechnics were the backbone of the technical education system and 1T order to meet the evolving demands of the economy.

    “We must significantly increase our investment in polytechnic education,” he said.

    Adopting the motion, the House urges the Federal Ministry of Education to increase the funding of Federal Polytechnics in Nigeria. The House also mandated the Committee on Legislative Compliance to ensure compliance.

  • ASUP to FG: allow polytechnics to award degrees, masters, doctorate

    ASUP to FG: allow polytechnics to award degrees, masters, doctorate

    Mr Anderson Ezeibe, the National Preesident of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), has urged the Federal Government to empower polytechnics to award their bachelors of technology to end the BSc and Higher National Diploma (HND) dichotomy.

    Ezeibe made the call in Kaduna at an award presentation and farewell ceremony organised by ASUP, Makarfi Chapter to mark transition of Shehu Idris Collage of Health Sciences and Technology, Makarfi (SICHSTM) into Kaduna State University (KASU).

    Newsmen reports that SICHSTM was merged with KASU to be awarding degrees by Gov. Nasir El-Rufa’i.

    He said the measure, if adopted, would also ensure full utilisation of huge number of technical equipment in workshops, laboratories and other facilities in public polytechnics that remained underutilised due to lean students population.

    The president said that with the transition, SICHST, was  no longer a member of ASUP, but of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

    ”ASUP is currently on advocacy on the award of bachelors of techology by Nigerian polytechnics system.

    ”HND is no longer as attractive as it used to be to Nigerian youths because of the age-long dichotomy.

    “Policy makers have made it a rule that once an individual have an HND, he cannot attain the peak of his/her career, then why are they continueing to force it on people, why don’t they phase it out and replace it bachelors of techology, “he said.

    According to him the Nigerian polytechnic system have all it takes in terms of infrastructure and human capital to award Bachelors, Masters and Doctorate Degrees in the areas of techology.

    “In Europe, Germany, UK, America and all parts of the world, polytechnics are not limited to middle level manpower.

    “In the new polytechnic act, they are empowered to produce higher level manpower without limit, as we speak, many polytechnics are producing degree holders but in affiliation

    “They are doing it with their own infrastructure and staff, why can’t they do it in name of another their institution.

    “We are on serious advocacy regarding this and we have recently submitted a position paper to the federal government on the need to transit from the award of HND to bachelors, Masters and Doctorate degrees in techology with the Nigeria polytechnic system,”he said.

    According to him, it will be the surest way of barricading the dichotomy between HND and Bachelors Degrees.

    “The bill to stop the dichotomy has passed through all the stages of legislation but not accented by the President and the period has passed, which means their is no political will.

    “So, if they are not ready to improve HND, they should phase it out and replace it with degrees in techology so as for us to continue to dwell in our own area of competence which is technical education.

    ”ASUP is faced with many challenges and success stories among which were their ability to change the model of engagement with proprietors of public polytechnics and collages of technology in the country.

    “We also engage in alot of advocacy which resulted to us attracting positivities to the Nigerian polytechnics system.

    “Recently, six new centres of excellence have been established in the Nigerian polytechnics system, one in each geo-political zone, they are the first of their kind.

    Ezeibe also said that in October, N15Billion was also released for polytechnics system as a result of their struggles, for the revitalisation of infrastructure in Nigeria polytechnics system.

    “Currently, we are renegotiating our agreement with the government on new wage structure for our members, and many other developments we are trying to bring to Nigeria polytechnics system,”he said.

    He said they were engaging their challenges in productive manner without destrupting academic activities in their campuses.

    Earlier, Mr Dauda Rilwan, Chairman of the event’s organising committee, said the occasion was very important to the institution as it was deemed fit by the Kaduna State Government to merge it with KASU for awarding of degrees and post graduate qualifications.

    He said that the award presentation was timely especially honoring those who had worked tirelessly in making the institution moved to a higher level.

    One of the awardees, the Executive Secretary of Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency, Dr Yusuf Arrigasiyu, thanked ASUP SICHSTM Chapter for the awarde

    Arrigasiyu, also a former Provost of the SICHSTM, said if one could be called and awarded after leaving a place he/she served, showed that that person has done something remarkable worthy of recognition.

    “This is a place I headed over three years ago, they calling to honor me will serve a morale booster and make me fo better in my current organisation as the Executive Secretary of the Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency so that future and posterity will tell better about me,”he said.

    He called on people to maximumly utilise any opportunity they came across in ensuring leaving positive footprints.

    “When I came three years ago as the Provost, there was a lot of chaos but I persivered and ensure puting in my expertise to ensure that college was brought back to its required vision and mission.

    “Once you have an opportunity, utilise it for the good, because time will tell if you have used the opportunity effectively or succeeded in wasting the time,”Arrigasiyu said.

    Newsmen reports that some of the awardees included Sen. Ahmad Makarfi, Dr Shehu Muhammad, former Comissioner Kaduna State Ministry of Education, Ezeibe, among others.

    Newsmen reports that a bill seeking a perpetual end to the dichotomy between the university degrees of Bachelor’s of Arts/Science, BA/BSc and the Higher National Diplomas, HNDs awarded by polytechnics was passed.

    The Nigerian Senate also passed the bill to abolish the discrimination between holders of Higher National Diploma (HND) and Bachelor of science (BSc) from tertiary institutions.

    Senate president Ahmad Lawan said the passage of the bill will serve as a motivation to HND holders from polytechnics.

    The bill is titled: “A Bill for an Act to Abolish and Prohibit Dichotomy and Discrimination between First Degree and Higher National Diploma in the Same Profession/Field for the Purpose of Employment; and for Related Matters”.

    Detailing the equality of Degrees and HNDs, the bill stipulates that “Notwithstanding any provision in any legislation, circular, regulation or policy guideline, First Degree and Higher National Diploma shall be deemed construed and treated as equivalent qualification for the purpose of employment and career progression at workplace in the public and private sectors of the Nigerian economy.

    “Any provision in-laws, enactments, instruments, circulars, scheme of service, directives, or policies by whatever name called, which is inconsistent with the provisions of this bill, shall to the extent of the inconsistency be null and void, and of no effect.

    “Holders of the First Degree and the Higher National Diploma (HND) shall be given equal treatment and opportunity in career placements, career progression, admission to further studies and privileges whatsoever in consideration of status as graduates of Nigeria tertiary institutions of higher learning.”

    The bill also prohibited discrimination between the Degree and HND.

    “All forms of discriminations and or dichotomy between First Degree and Higher National Diplomas for the purpose of employment, transfer of service, conversion of cadre, career progression, promotion, and other related issues in the public and private sectors of the Nigerian economy is hereby abolished.

  • Trouble looms as ASUP rejects five ‘unqualified rectors’ appointed by FG in new polytechnics

    Trouble looms as ASUP rejects five ‘unqualified rectors’ appointed by FG in new polytechnics

    The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has accused the Federal Government of appointing five unqualified persons as rectors in newly established federal polytechnics, in violation of the subsisting Act.

    The ASUP National President, Mr Anderson Ezeibe, who stated this at the 100th National Executive Council meeting of the union in Auchi, on Wednesday, said that the Federal Government violated the Federal polytechnics Amendment Act, 2019, in the appointment of the rectors.

    According to him, the law allowed for only people within the cadre of Chief Lecturer, with a minimum of five years experience to be appointed.

    “Recently, the Federal Government announced the establishment of six new federal polytechnics in Cross River, Oyo, Plateau, Benue and Borno States.

    “Five out of the six rectors that were appointed into these newly established polytechnics did not possess the requisite qualifications,” he said, adding that the union had already gone to court to challenge the appointments.

    “We have an order of court for substituted service, we also have an order to join the five persons appointed illegally,” he said.

    Speaking further, the ASUP president urged the Edo state government to pay the five months salary arrears owed staff of the State Polytechnic.

    In his speech, the Deputy Governor, Mr Philips Shaibu said the state government was aware of the lingering labour issues at the state polytechnic and that adequate steps were being taken to address the issues.

    Represented by his Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr Jimoh Ijegbai, the deputy governor commended the union for its cooperation and patience with the government in the face of the crisis.

    Mustapha Zubair, Rector, Auchi Polytechnic, expressed worry over the low ratings of polytechnics in the country, noting that the Polytechnic Act had well established criteria which, those in charge of the sector should endeavour to uphold.

    The rector urged ASUP to always adopt dialogue in seeking redress, saying, “dialogue is the best tool in making agitations”.

    “The just concluded strike by the union has yielded positive results, N15 billion has been released for the development of polytechnics in Nigeria,” he said.

    Earlier, Mr Lawani Jimoh, Chairman, Auchi Polytechnic chapter of ASUP, said that industrial harmony was gradually being built between the union and the polytechnic’s management.

    “We are looking forward to the implementation of CONTISS 15 migration for the lower cadre officers in August.

    “We (also) expect management to reciprocate by paying the promotion arrears of staff promoted in 2016,” he said.