The special delegates’ conference by the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics(SSANIP) held recently in Abuja, MOSES JOHN situates the importance of the event towards improved welfare of members.
The National Delegates Conference (NDC) of every union comes up either four or three years, depending on the constitution or bylaw of such union. And for the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP), the association which elects a new team of executive members every four years, it was time to have a special delegates’ conference to fill up some vacant positions.
They were created following the exit of some executive members who had taken up higher responsibilities at different levels across the nation.
At the end of the two-day(April 7-8, 2021) event which held in Abuja, Comrade Hussain Yusuf Gwandu who until now was the national publicity secretary was elected national secretary, while Comrade Nura Shehu Gaya from the Federal Polytechnic Kazaure became the new publicity scribe.
The rest are Comrade Elizabeth Iorahungwa Mdoom from AT Polytechnic Makurdi who became the national women leader, Comrade Fedrick Kelechi from Abia state Polytechnic as national organising secretary and Comrade Mohammed Umar from Kaduna Polytechnic as the national treasurer.
Security challenges
Beside the business of election, the meeting also deliberated on the state of the nation and came up with its position.
In a communiqué at the end of the session, they said: “The Council-in-session appreciated the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari for rejigging the security apparatus with a view to injecting new ideas and drive so as to improve the security situation in the country, expressed a huge concern over the continued unabated spate of insecurity being perpetuated and advanced by Boko Haram insurgents, Bandits, Kidnappers and other similar groups on innocent citizens
“The Council therefore charged the Security Agencies to fully take full advantage of Information & Communication Technology (ICT) knowledge and skills to improve the intelligence gathering process with a view to curbing this unfortunate trend. In the considered opinion of the Council, the application of ICT based techniques would assist in finding lasting solution to the lingering security issues and general governance as the protection of lives and properties remain the basic function of Government”.
“The Council-in-session observed and frowned at the failure of the Federal Government to re-constitute Governing Councils for the Federal Polytechnics since 11th May, 2020 when the tenure of the last Council expired.
“The Council noted that despite the concerted effort of the National Executive Council (NEC) of SSANIP in engaging with the Federal Ministry of Education and other relevant Agencies of the Government at different fora, the re-constitution of the Governing Councils for the Federal Polytechnics is still being continuously delayed.
“Similarly, the Council frowned at some State Governments who are yet to constitute and inaugurate Governing Councils for their respective Polytechnics.
“The Council noted that non-availability of the Council to perform its statutory roles as enshrined in Section 7 of the Federal Polytechnics Act of 2019 (as amended) has continued to affect the general management and operation of the Polytechnics.
It is on the basis of the above, that the Council-in-session is urgently demanding for the immediate re-constitution and inauguration of Governing Councils for all Federal Polytechnics without further delay to allow for smooth running of the Polytechnics.
“The Council-in-session observed that all the Tertiary Educational Institutions in Nigeria have Commissions except the Polytechnic sub-sector. In the well-reasoned position of the Council, the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), as is presently constituted can no longer address the needs of the Polytechnics in view of the new developments as contained in the amended Polytechnic Act.
“Therefore, the Council-in-session wish to request for the establishment of National Polytechnics Commission to address the numerous challenges confronting the Polytechnics in the country”.
On the poor funding of polytechnics, the “Council urges both Federal and State Governments to increase the funding of the Polytechnics to enhance curriculum delivery.
“The Council expressed its profound dissatisfaction with the unending attempt of the Federal Government to abandon the renegotiation of the 2010 Agreement despite several spirited efforts by the Union.
“The Council-in-session observed that since the IPPIS took over the payment of members’ salaries in February, 2020, the tax regime has increased unbearably with untold hardship on members. The Union further observed that the singular factor that gave reason for the regressive tax is the erroneous calculation of the tax based on the consolidated salaries rather than the basic salaries.
“Against this backdrop, the Council-in-session frowned at this unfortunate development and wishes to use this medium to call on IPPIS and other relevant Government Agencies to expeditiously take appropriate action and calculate taxes of members based on basic salary rather than consolidated salary as it is being currently done.”
“Similarly, the act of taxing earned allowances, especially those peculiar to the Polytechnic sub-sector as being currently done by the IPPIS is unprofessional, non-conventional and therefore questionable. It is on this premise that the Council-in-session demanded that the IPPIS should stop taxing of earned allowances forthwith”.
The leadership of the union also frowned at the delay in the release of promotion arrears for federal and states owned polytechnics.
“The Council-in-session expressed its dismay over the continued non-release of the last Minimum Wage arrears to the workers in the Federal Polytechnics. The Council observed that in spite of the fact that some MDAs have long enjoyed these arrears and coupled with the unrelenting efforts of the Union, the arrears of our members are yet to be released,” they said.
With the myriad of issues raised at the meeting, observers are of the view that government should seek a parley with the association’s leadership. Doing this, it is believed, might probably bring to an end the strike currently being embarked on by members.