Nigeria: ASUP Offers FG 15-Day Ultimatum Over Scheme of Service for Polytechnics

Kaduna – Polytechnic lecturers in Nigeria have flayed a “contentious doc” titled “Scheme of Service for Polytechnics by the Nationwide Board for Technical Schooling ( NBTE), alleging that it lacked inclusive stakeholder enter, notably from their union and stakeholders within the polytechnic sector.

The aggrieved lecturers issued a 15-day ultimatum to the Federal Authorities efficient July 8, 2024, to droop the implementation of “the tough work referred to as “Scheme of Service for the Polytechnics” or face numerous types of industrial motion by our Union.

Whereas addressing a press convention in Kaduna, the Zonal Coordinator, Zone A of the Tutorial Employees Union of Polytechnics( ASUP), Dr Abdulazeez Ibrahim Badaru, mentioned it has turn into crucial to handle crucial issues concerning the newly launched Scheme of Service (SOS) for Polytechnics.

” These observations and reservations have been meticulously mentioned through the one hundred and tenth Nationwide Govt Council (NEC) assembly of ASUP on July 4, 2024, in addition to the Zonal Govt Officers of our Zone of the Union on the tenth July 2024.”

The Polytechnic lecturers noticed and resolved that ” the Nationwide Board for Technical Schooling (NBTE) launched a doc titled “Scheme of Service for Polytechnics” which lacks inclusive stakeholder enter, notably from our union and stakeholders within the polytechnic sector. It diverges considerably from a beforehand ready doc following in depth consultations and engagements that began since 2012, is seen as an intentional transfer by the Workplace of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the NBTE to sow discord inside the polytechnic sector.”

They mentioned the present doc is opposed until all factors of rivalry are addressed.

“The importation of sub-tertiary degree {qualifications}, such because the Nationwide Expertise {Qualifications} (NSQ), as compulsory conditions for the profession development of educational workers inside the polytechnic is deemed laughable. The NSQ lacks substantive worth in enhancing the supply of curricula on the tertiary degree in polytechnics, serving as an undue burden with out corresponding skilled improvement. Consequently, we vehemently reject its inclusion as a compulsory criterion for educational workers profession development.”

“There’s a regarding inconsistency within the entry factors for Graduate Assistants, with the NBTE doc reducing the bar for Bachelor diploma holders whereas disadvantaging HND holders. Equal grades (e.g., Second Class Decrease: Decrease Credit score) needs to be required on the Graduate Assistant degree to make sure equity. 4. The splitting of the Senior Lecturer degree into Senior Lecturer II and Senior Lecturer 1

will create pointless complexities and additional lengthen the lecturer cadre construction.”

“We demand a return to the established order and a discount of the lecturer cadre from a 9-step to a 7 -step construction, with a most three-year ready interval for development between steps. The present doc’s construction would necessitate a minimal of 26 years for a Graduate Assistant to achieve the height of their profession, which is impractical, and demotivating in comparison with the development of lecturers within the universities and the universities of training with a minimal of 18 and 20 years respectively to achieve the height of their profession.”

“The introduction of non-academic designations resembling Assistant Director (Library) and Deputy Director (library) undermines the tutorial nature of the Librarian cadre and is unacceptable. A reversal to the tutorial nomenclature is demanded. 6. The discount in terminal ranges for varied cadres, together with Library Officer, Govt Officer, and Confidential Secretary, from CONTEDISS 14 to CONTEDISS 12, is unwarranted, demotivating, and detrimental to the polytechnic sector. This may additional encourage and deepen college students’ apathy in making use of to review within the polytechnics. The Union calls for the reversal of the unfair discrimination of the merchandise of the identical system that produces them.”

“Technologists play an important function within the technological development of scholars and needs to be acknowledged as tutorial workers. The reclassification of Technologists as non-academic workers devalues their contributions and is unacceptable. 8. The preferential remedy given to Bachelor levels over HND qualification for the

appointment of Registrars and Bursars is discriminatory. The doc’s bias towards Increased Nationwide Diploma holders undermines progress, towards this unacceptable follow. The polytechnics mustn’t discriminate towards their graduates.”

“The failure to incorporate the HND Pharmaceutical Know-how program within the SoS, regardless of a courtroom ruling, raises issues about adherence to the regulation. The Union insists that the NBTE revoke the doubtful MoU with the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria concerning the HND program’s standing and restore the Pharmaceutical Know-how Cadre.”

“The acquisition profession development within the Lecturer cadre, whereas our Union shouldn’t be averse to this improvement, the questions of a related PhD is now a compulsory requirement for begging for solutions are: To what impact? What are the utilities of doctoral {qualifications}? The absence of steps to diploma program in polytechnics undermines the worth of PhD holders within the sector. “

“Subsequently, our Union calls for quick steps to introduce he reholdites levels within the polytechnics to make the most of the extra {qualifications} being demanded.We want to stress that we studied the doc completely and we’re dedicated to pursuing these points to their logical conclusions. It’s essential to focus on that now we have issued a 15-day ultimatum to the Federal Authorities efficient July 8, 2024, to droop the implementation of this tough work referred to as “Scheme of Service for the Polytechnics” or face numerous types of industrial motion by our Union,” the lecturers mentioned.