The
lecturers in Nigeria’s public polytechnics have been on a nationwide
strike since October 4. Despite meetings held between the lecturers and
the federal government, the lingering issues still remain with the
lecturers vowing to continue their strike until their demands are met.
At
the root of the strike is an agreement ASUP had with the federal
government in 2001. The 2001 Federal Government of Nigeria/Academic
Staff Union of Polytechnic, ASUP, agreement was reviewed in 2009 with an
agreement that it should be re-negotiated after three years.
The
failure of government to call for a re-negotiation in 2012 as agreed
upon and the accumulated challenges confronting the polytechnics
necessitated the union to identify critical areas of need in the
schools, the ASUP National Publicity Secretary, Clement Chirman told
journalists.
The critical areas were presented as a list of 13
demands by ASUP to the federal government in 2012. These, according to
the academic union’s spokesperson, include:
1. The need for a re-constitution of the Governing Councils of Federal Polytechnics which were dissolved in 2010.
2.
The Migration of the lower cadres on the CONTISS 15 salary scale.
Government had approved the migration in 2009 and had actually begun its
implementation for the senior cadres with strong assurances that those
of the lower cadres would follow without delay.
3. The release of the White Paper on the Visitations to Federal Polytechnics.
4. The need for the commencement of the Needs Assessment of Nigerian Polytechnics.
5.
The worrisome state of state-owned polytechnics in the country. The
argument to government here hitched on the rot and comatose state of
most state polytechnics.
6. The continued appointment of
unqualified persons as Rectors and Provosts of Polytechnics,
Monotechnics and Colleges of Technologies by some by state governments.
7.
The refusal of most State governments to implement the approved salary
packages (CONPCASS) for their Polytechnics, Monotechnics and Colleges of
Technologies and the 65 year retirement age even though both states and
federal polytechnics are regulated by the National Board for Technical
Education, NBTE, and they operate the same scheme of service.
8.
The insistence of the office of the Accountant General of the Federation
to include Federal Polytechnics in the IPPIS module as against the
Union’s protestations while other arms of the tertiary education
sub-sector are allowed to maintain the status quo.
9. The
dichotomy between university and polytechnic graduates in job placements
and career progression. The argument in this regard is anchored on the
fact that graduates from these sectors should be measured on the
strength of their competence on job delivery and not the environment
that produces them.
10. The continued recognition of the NBTE as
the regulatory body of Nigerian Polytechnics as against the union’s
repeated call for the establishment of a National Polytechnics
Commission, NPC. The strength of the argument here is relevant as the
universities and colleges of education are regulated by the National
Universities Commission, NUC, and the National Commission for Colleges
of Education, NCCE, respectively.
11. The snail speed pace of the review of the Federal Polytechnics Act at the National Assembly.
12. The reluctance of the Office of the Head of Service to approve the Revised Scheme of Service for Polytechnics.
13. The non-commencement of the re-negotiation of the FGN/ASUP agreement as contained in the signed agreement.
The content of these demands were tabled before the government as early as February, 2012.
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