The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Zone C, which comprises the South-West and Kwara states, on Monday condemned the undue exercise of oversight and interference by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) regarding the admission of students into polytechnics across the country.
The leadership of ASUP also criticized the government’s silence concerning the 15-day strike ultimatum issued last week to address several issues impacting polytechnic education in the country.
The union urged its members to prepare for the struggle ahead should the government fail to respond to its demands by Friday, when the ultimatum will expire.
ASUP Coordinator for Zone C, Adekunle Masopa, disclosed this at a press briefing held at Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic in Ijebu Igbo.
Masopa stated that it was unfair for the government to remain silent since last week when the union issued the ultimatum, asserting that lecturers cannot be blamed if they decide to go on strike after the ultimatum expires.
He criticized the government for not demonstrating sufficient support for polytechnic education, which has both the mandate and capacity to drive the country’s technological advancement.
He highlighted several concerns of the union, including the NBTE’s failure to comply with resolutions reached in July 2024 regarding the contentious reviewed scheme of service, the undue oversight functions, and the usurpation of powers vested in the Academic Board of various institutions by the NBTE concerning the admission of students into Higher National Diploma programs.
To avert this looming strike, Masopa asserted that “the government must resume active duty and commitment to the resolutions of the tripartite meeting held in July 2024 regarding the 2023 reviewed scheme of service.
“There must be immediate implementation of the 25/35 percent consequential salary adjustment in state polytechnics from January 2023, as well as the payment of the one-year arrears of this salary adjustment to federal institutions without further delay.
“ASUP requests that the NBTE desist from usurping the powers of statutory bodies, particularly the Academic Board, concerning the admission of students at any level.
Additionally, immediate payment of all outstanding promotion arrears is required.”
Masopa announced that, following the directive of the National Executive Council (NEC) of ASUP, the union will begin to sensitise its members about the imminent strike.
Present at the meeting were chairpersons of both federal and state-owned polytechnics from the South-West and Kwara states.
