The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has advised the federal government to urgently address the lingering issues with the union to guarantee industrial harmony in the nation’s polytechnics.
ASUP National President, Comrade Usman Dutse who spoke at the commissioning of the National secretariat of the union in Abuja, also urged the Senate to pass the bill seeking to review Polytechnic Act which had gone through second reading.
Comrade Dutse said the sector is facing great challenge threatening the smooth running of the institutions and development of technological education in the country.
According to him, some of the issues are Needs Assessment of public polytechnics, persistent shortfall in personnel cost, non payment of promotion arrears and other approved allowances and non payment of salaries in many state institutions with accrued arrears of between three to nine months, even with the receipt of three tranches of Paris Club refund and bailout funds releases to states.
Others are “the bill for the review of the Polytechnic Act which has since passed 2nd reading in the Senate. It’s passage into the law would significantly smoothen the running of the institutions without additional cost to government, CONTISS 15 has been the most malignant among the lingering issues it seems government is deliberately delaying the payment of the arrears. Justice delayed is justice denied.
“Establishment of a National Polytechnics Commission, without this Commission, the much desired progress in the technological take-off of Nigeria may continue to remain an illusion, the removal of dichotomy between HND and Degree holders has been lingering for long even with various approvals for its removal and many state polytechnics do not have governing councils and most of their programmes still run without accreditation”.
Speaking also, Chairman, Senate committee on Tetfund, Senator Jibrin Barau assured that agitations by polytechnic unions over challenges of the sub sector would soon be things of the past.
Senator Jibrin said the upper legislature on resumption from recess, would consider the development, with a view to passing into law the bill for the review of Polytechnic Act.
According to him, the lawmakers are worried with frequent industrial action, mostly by unions in the education sector, hence will do everything to ensure a smooth running of the education system.
Senator Barau said most of the union’s demands would be solved if the bill which has passed second reading is passed into law.
“I want to assure you that once we resume from recess, the bill for the review of polytechnic Act will be pass into law. I know that passage of that bill would address many issues that is causing regular agitations by the workers”.
