The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Polytechnic

  • Polytechnic lecturers suspend planned strike action

    The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP) has suspended its planned nationwide strike to protest lack of government attention to technical education in the country and the implementation of government agreement with the unions.

    The Union had issued a 21 day ultimatum, threatening to commence an indefinite strike from November 2, but said in a statement after its National Executive Council meeting that it was suspending the planned strike to give government ample opportunity to address its demands.

    National President of the Union, Usman Dutse said the union was satisfied by with steps being taken  the government to address the union’s demands and therefore decided to give them the opportunity to concritise efforts being made to  address their demands.

    The statement reads in part: “Our union had brought to the notice of government the urgent need to attend to the sector that has suffered under the throes of gross under-funding which has engendered under-growth in all aspects of the polytechnic system.

    “Our union is particularly worried that state institutions are the worse off. Salaries are still owed in many state owned institutions with some owed up to ten months arrears, especially in Abia, Adamawa, Benue, Edo, |mo, Kogi, Ondo, Ogun, Osun, and Oyo.

    “Managements and Governing Councils have been recalcitrant and persistently trample on union officials in our various chapters by arbitrary suspension and sacking of officials and outright mis-representation in administration of the institutions, non-implementation of the Needs assessment; delay in accenting to the Amendment of the Polytechnic Act, victimisation of union officials, withdrawal of allowances and persistent shortfalls in personnel releases to Polytechnics as well  as the lethargy shown by government in the renegotiation of the union’s 2010 agreement.

    “These were compounded by the deployment of arm twisting measures in forcing our members into the IPPIS module without addressing the union’s concerns.

    “This continued neglect and seeming government’s indifference on issues concerning the polytechnic sector led to our union’s twenty-one day ultimatum which expired on the 23rd October, 2018.

    “Following this ultimatum, our union has had engagements with government and its agencies. Particularly worth mentioning was the meeting of 18th October, 2018 between our union and the government represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry of Education with representatives from the NBTE and Budget and Planning. At this meeting government exhibited considerable concerns to prioritise the challenges of the polytechnic sector towards ameliorating them.

    “Rising from the emergency meeting of NEC therefore, the Union In consideration of the appeals by the government and commitments to resolving the issues In dispute, resolved to put Its planned industrial action on hold to allow government more time to concretise its promises on our demands.
    The union also resolved to reconvene its NEC meeting by the end of November, 2013 to assess the progress made and take appropriate actions.

    “The union is in gratitude to its teeming members, as well as members of the public for their support so far even as we pledge to sustain the struggle  for a better teaching and learning environment,  welfare conditions and brighter future for our  graduates  and technical education in the country.”

  • Ogun Polytechnic gets Rector, Governing Council

    The Ogun State government has announced the appointment of Dr. Samson Adeola Odedina as the pioneer Rector of the newly created controversial Ogun State Polytechnic, Ipokia and approved a Governing Council for the institution.

    The appointment  made known in a press release signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Taiwo Adeoluwa stated that Ambassador Isiaka Adesola Abolurin would head the Governing council committee.

    The acting rector of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY) Ayo Tella would function as the Deputy Rector for the combined and newly created Ogun Polytechnic.

    The full statement reads  “As part of efforts to ensure seamless commencement of academic activities at the Ogun State Polytechnic, Ipokia, following the approval of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to transfer accredited courses of the old Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta to the new Polytechnic at Ipokia, the Ogun State Government has announced the appointment of Dr. Samson
    Adeola Odedina as the pioneer Rector of the institution. Dr. Odedina was a one-time Rector of the Gateway Information Communication Technology (GICT) Polytechnic, Itori.

    “In the same vein, it also approved the constitution of a Governing Council for the institution with Ambassador Isiaka Adesola Abolurin as Chairman.

    “The acting Rector of the old MAPOLY, Abeokuta, Mr. Ayo Tella will now function as the Deputy Rector for the combined and newly created Ogun State Polytechnic.

    “Other members of the Council are Engr. Niyi Olumide, Alhaji Waheed Kadiri, Prof. Kayode Biodun Olurin, Messrs Olaolu Idowu, Idowu Adegbite, Akin Orebiyi and Mrs Moji Bobade(nee Abiose).

    Others are Mr. Hakeem Olatunbosun Ayoade representing the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic Alumni Association, Chief Jare Oyesola representing the Ogun State Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (OGUNCIMA) and Mrs. Roselyn A. Onalaja representing the National Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA)”.

    According to the release, Dr. Samson Adeola Odedina holds Ph.D in Crop Production from the Federal University of Technology, Akure, M.Sc in Crop Science from Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Portharcourt among other educational and professional qualifications.

    He joined the Federal College of Agriculture, Akure in 1990 and rose through the ranks to the position of Chief Lecturer in 2012 and was appointed Provost of the institution in 2015.
    52-year old Odedina had a stint with the Ogun State Agricultural Development Programme (OGADEP) as Village Extension Agent in Ajebo village between 1986 and 1987. He has over 60 publications in National and International media.

    The chairman of the Governing Council, Ambassador Isiaka Adesola Abolurin was a career Diplomat who served as in various capacities at the Nigeria High Commission in Kenya, Nigerian Embassies in Germany and South Korea among other foreign Missions.

    He retired in 2016 as the State Coordinator/Head of United Nations office, Malakal, Upper Nile State and holds a Masters of International Law and Diplomacy from the University of Lagos and a Bachelor of Science.

  • Lagos City Polytechnic graduates 541

    Graduates of Lagos City Polytechnic have been urged to live above board as they go into the world.

    The advice was given during the institution’s 12th Convocation in Ikeja.

    Two hundred and sixty-seven  graduates were conferred with the National Diploma (ND) while 274 received the Higher National Diploma (HND) from the Schools of Engineering and Applied Sciences and Business and Management Studies.

    The institution’s Governing Council Chairman, Babatunde Adewale Odufuwa, said Nigerians had misplaced their priorities.

    Odufuwa said: “It is all about money, notwithstanding the circumstances of how we get the money. But life is not all about the financial benefits. It is okay to be rich, have luxury houses, cars etc. All these don’t fill up your life, but living a life of substance through your service, your offering of your  self.

    “Graduates, friends of graduates and families, the best legacy is for every life you touch. Fill everything with love. Provide solutions to problems and wealth will follow you.”

    He said the government should  give incentives to private tertiary institutions that are helping the government to train its citizens.

    Odufuwa harped on discipline and general education, teacher training as well as a viable educational system.

    Delivering the convocation lecture, Otunba A. P. S. Arogundade, said, Nigeria needs further entrenchment of technology in educational development.

    He spoke on: Integrating technology in learning.

    Eyinka, who represented Arogundade, said: “Science and Technology have revolutionised learning around the world. Telecommunications has brought the world together such that distance is no longer a barrier to quality and depth of learning.

    “Many values that have been added to telecoms over the years and the explosion in software engineering have superimposed interesting paradigm to learning in general.”

    A Governing council member Mrs. Titilayo Solarin urged the graduates to be upright.

  • Polytechnic lecturers begin strike on Monday

    Polytechnic lecturers begin strike on Monday

    Academic activities in the nation’s polytechnics will be disrupted from Monday, November 13, 2017 as the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) commence an indefinite strike to press government to meet their demands.

    The union accused the Ministry of Education of  failing to attend a conciliatory meeting called by the Ministry of Labour and Employment aimed at resolving their demands.

    It said the Ministry only sent a deputy director without a mandate to attend the meeting.

    National President of the union, Comrade Usman  Dutse said the union was declaring a total and indefinite strike, adding that the government was using endless verification exercises to delay the payment of entitlements of members of the union.

    He said while the union is not against government carrying out verification exercises, it should not endless and the exercise should not be used to denied workers their rights.

    He said that despite the 21 days notice given to the government, they did not consider it necessary to address their demands for an improved funding of polytechnic education in the country, adding that an additional seven days given to the government has also not yielded any positive result.

    “Our union is constrained to lament again that our sector is on the verge of collapse and needs all the emergency attention it urgently deserves. Until now, it should be noted that the issues raised here today have been there since 2014 and none of these issues has since 2014 been concretely resolved to improve the sector.

    “It is against this background that we wish to remind governments at all levels and indeed all Nigerians that we cannot continue to be complacent in the face of imminent and seemly strategic annihilation of a sector that feeds and caters for millions of youths and families. 

    “A sector that if well harnessed will boost Nigeria’s technological know–how, improve ICT, create millions of employment opportunities and raise the level of both theoretical and practical technological literacy.”

    The polytechnic lecturers are demanding the implementation of the NEEDS assessment report which recommended the injection of N6.5 billion into the polytechnic education in 2014.

    They said the amount has risen to about N8 billion, adding that without Imo,emerging the report, the essence of using tax payers money to embark on the  exercise is wasted.

    They are also demanding passage of the Amendment Bill of the Polytechnics Act, noting that “the delay and indifference to the passage of this bill is viewed as a ploy to fester chaos and continued crises in the sector. Recall that this bill passed through public hearing since December 2016.”

    He said “One wonders why an all important bill such as this still remains unattended to even when assurances have been extracted from the Senate Committee on this bill, our regulatory agencies and ministry of education. 

    “Passing this bill will go a long way to resolving majority of the contending issues in the sector, reduce conflicts, improve on the efficiency levels of the administrative organs and ultimately bring the sector in tune with global best practices. Same bill died with the 6th and 7th assemblies and the current effort is now being threatened to go same way as it is stuck in the Senate since the public hearing in December, 2016.”

    They also want the government to pay the shortfall in Personnel Releases and Withdrawal of Allowances and  emoluments due to cuts in personnel releases which it said  has persisted till date and accused government of “withdrawing allowances which hitherto were part of salaries.”

    “Equally, unpaid arrears of promotions have continued to mount. While verifications of staff have been conducted over and over, only five institutions have received repayment of their 2016 shortfalls. This situation is compounded by the continued penchant of Governing Councils to siphon the meagre internal resources of institutions in order to assuage their unbridled appetite for luxury.”

    They are also not happy with the sorry state of state government owned polytechnics and monotechnics which they said have continued to be in deplorable conditions, with salaries of staff not paid while union officials are victimized.

    Also included in their demand is the Release of CONTISS 15 Migration arrears that has lingered since 2011 when the approval to migrate to the CONTISS 15 salary scale was secured from the government effective 2009.

    “Since then, only the upper cadre has been fully taken care of. Staffs in the lower cadre are being short changed since then as they are yet to get the full benefit of this policy. In response, government continues to set up committees without terminal dates and any meaningful response to the union’s protests.

    “It is worthy to note that a lot of these issues constitute violations of the agreement signed between our union and the government in 2010. This is in tandem with the now well documented penchant of government to renege on agreements. Recently efforts to address these issues led to the convening, on the 24th of October 2017, of a conciliatory meeting by the Federal Ministry of Labour in Abuja. 

    “Curiously, the ministry in eye of the storm (The Federal Ministry of Education) was so poorly represented that no memorandum of action was agreed upon. This clearly showed the level of disdain and disrespect with which issues of the polytechnic sector are being handled by relevant agencies of government.

    “In view of the above, our union rising from this emergency meeting hereby resolved to commence an indefinite and comprehensive strike action effective 13th November, 2017. This action shall be sustained until our demands are met or an implementable memorandum of action is agreed upon by our union and relevant agencies of government.

    “We therefore call on well meaning Nigerians and indeed the public to prevail on the government to do the needful and avoid this imminent shutdown of the sector on an indefinite basis.”

  • Polytechnic lecturers write FG, issue 21-day strike notice

    Polytechnic lecturers write FG, issue 21-day strike notice

    Lecturers in the nation’s polytechnic sector have threatened to withdraw their services and commence a comprehensive and indefinite strike action if the federal government fails to address their grievances within 21 days, accusing the government of neglecting the sector..

    In a letter dated October 9, 2017 addressed to the Minister of Labour and Employment, the lecturers also threatened to withdraw from the negotiation of its 2010 agreement with the government as the issues currently in dispute constitute violations of the subsisting agreement between the union and government.

    The letter signed by the National President of the Union, Comrade Usman, Y. Dutse was copied to the Executive Secretary, National Board for Technical Education and the Chairman, Federal Government/ASUP 2010 Renegotiation Committee.

    Dutse said “tje NEC of our union reviewed the progress made by the government in resolving issues bordering on the welfare of its members and smooth functioning of the sector. NEC specifically discussed the outcome of the meeting between our union and the Honorable Minister of Education on the 22nd of August, 2017.

    “The Honorable Minister had at the meeting, assured the union that within one month, the issues presented by the union would have been addressed. You may also recall sir, that our union withdrew the services of its members in a one week warning strike in February, 2017 over same issues.”

    He said a review of the progress made after six weeks of the meeting with the Minister revealed that no substantial progress has been made, adding that while the Minister had direct d a review of the NEEDS assessment survey in line with inflationary trend before the document is transmitted to the Federal Executive Council for approval. there is no indication towards the movement of the document to the Federal Executive Council for necessary action. 

    He said further that despite the directive on the sustained shortfalls in personnel releases and withdrawal of allowances since December, 2015 and for institutions to continue to pay the allowances until such is captured in the budget, the directive has been largely ignored while their members are being owed this allowance with some owed for as much as 18 months. 

    According to the ASUP President, the shortfalls has continued to persist with only 2 Polytechnics receiving their shortfalls, while promotion arrears are equally owed with some dating as far as 2014.

    He said the government has also not shown any seriousness on addressing the issue of the non release of CONTISS 15 Migration Arrears as the arrears has continue to increase across both federal and state owned institutions since 2009 for the lower cadre.

    He said further that despite the Minister’s directive that the template prepared by the ministry appointment process of Rectors be adhered to, some polytechnics, notably Federal Polytechnics Bauchi, Oko and Kaduna Polytechnic have brazenly violated the template in different dimensions. 

    According to him, the union believes is taking place with the active connivance of representatives of the ministry and the regulatory body in the governing councils of the affected institutions, adding that situation is even worse in state owned institutions with different levels of unimaginable violations taking place in the appointment process.

    He said despite repeated assurances, the amendment bill of the Polytechnics Act which passed through public hearing at the Senate since December 6th 2016 is yet to be passed by the Senate and attributes this to the low and unfortunate premium placed on Technological education in the country as same bill had died with the 6th and 7th assemblies.

    He alleged that Officers of our union are still victimized in Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi Uku, Osun state Polytechnic Iree, Adamawa state Polytechnic Yola and Federal Polytechnic Mubi. Our union check off dues in Federal Polytechnic Mubi is still being released to unauthorized persons by the rector and management of same institution. 

    He also alleged the non-payment of staff salaries in some state owned institutions, saying “this has continued despite repeated calls by our union for needed intervention. States like Abia currently owes 9 months while others like Edo, Kogi, Oyo, Benue, Osun, Imo, Plateau and Bayelsa owe between 8 and 4 months. Check off dues of our union in these states are equally withheld inclusive of Rivers state. 

    “In the face of these extreme acts of provocation, our members in Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta are threatened with mass sack as the governor of Ogun state has sustained his drive to establish a new polytechnic in a farmland in Ikpokia, defying logic and the genuine concerns of stakeholders.”

    In view of this he said, “the 89th meeting of NEC of our union therefore resolved to issue a 21 day ultimatum to the government effective 9th October, 2017 to comprehensively address the issues raised. The union will be left with no choice than to withdraw the services of its members in a total and comprehensive national industrial action in defense of the sector if the government fails to do the needful. 

    “The union may also reconsider its continued participation in the renegotiation of its 2010 agreement with the government as the issues listed above constitute violations of the subsisting agreement.

    “It is the hope of our union that government should seize the opportunity provided by the 21 days window to resolve the issues and avert the ugly consequence of avoidable disruption in academic calendar across Nigerian polytechnics and monotechnics.”

  • 23-yr-old Delta polytechnic graduate arrested for kidnapping, murder

    23-yr-old Delta polytechnic graduate arrested for kidnapping, murder

    A 23- year- old National Diploma (ND) graduate of the Delta State Polytechnic Ogwashi-Uku, Obed Ikenna Oluchi yesterday confessed to have been lured into crime because of his desperation for money to repay his creditor.

    He said he ventured into crime after he embezzled money meant for online sports betting at the betting house where he worked.

    He made this confession yesterday at the Delta State Police Command where he was paraded alongside four others for attempted kidnapping and armed robbery.

    According to him, “I work with Bet9ja.I just completed my ND from Delta State Poly Ogwashi-Uku. I studied Office Management and Technology. I was misled by a friend, because I needed money. A policeman came to our betting shop and he played a game worth N30, 000 which I only booked but did not bet because I thought it will not win. But the game won and the policemen wanted to claim his winnings worth over N250, 000. Because I did not bet the coupon I could not give him his winnings. So it was an attempt to find money that lured me into crime. The owner of the betting shop was angry when he found out what happened”.

    Delta State Police Commissioner, Mr. Zanna Ibrahim who briefed reporters said the suspect was a member of a gang that attacked Mr. Amobi Molokwu in front of his gate behind Cornerstone International School ,off Okpanam, but he narrowly escaped .

    He said the hoodlums succeeded in robbing him of his RAV 4 Jeep with a number plate ASB 176 AV, his phones and other valuables, adding that “intelligence gathered technologically led to the arrest of Ignatius Obagha in whose possession the victim’s Infinix phone was recovered.”

    Ibrahim said Ignatius Obagha following his arrest confessed and mentioned Obed Ikenna Oluchi, Ifeanyi Aniekwe,Ifeanyi Nwosu and Mustapha Ali a.k.a Bababyo as gang members .

    Ibrahim said Obed Ikenna Oluchi was also involved in the robbery incident that occurred at Globe Supermarket, Okpanam on 27/7/2017 resulting in the murder of a lawyer Festus Ashiedu.

    Obed Ikenna said he did not know he was going to use a gun and that he thought he was only going to help his friend carry the N1.5 million during the robbery at the supermarket.

    He denied killing the lawyer, adding that the lawyer was struggling with their gang leader with the keys of his cars and he was shot in the process.

    His words: “I was not the one who killed the man, it was the ring leader that killed the lawyer. Someone switched off the ignition of our getaway car so our leader wanted to snatch the car from him and was struggling with our ringleader for the car keys and was shot. Our attempt to rob the supermarket failed as the N1.5 million had already been moved before we got there”.

  • ‘Save polytechnic education from collapse’

    National President, Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Comrade Usman Dutse, has raised the alarm that polytechnic education may collapse, if nothing urgent is done to rescue it.

    Dutse, who sent a Save-Our-Soul (SOS) message to the Federal Government, also enjoined union members to support their leaders to confront the challenges.

    He spoke at the opening of the 88th National Executive Council, (NEC) meeting of the union at the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti.

    He noted that the meeting was to review the challenges and chart the way forward for polytechnic education in Nigeria, urging stakeholders to continue to work together to ensure industrial peace in the sector.

    In his welcome address, the out-going chairman of ASUP, Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, Comrade Tunji Owoeye, urged the union to fight for the establishment of a polytechnic commission which, he said, would improve how polytechnics are run.

    He said the government must demonstrate the political will to establish the body, like the universities, nomadic and primary commissions.

    “The commission is a must and it is this generation of ASUP that should muster and exert all vehement solidarity towards any action declared by NEC at achieving it,” he said.

    Owoeye praised the Polytechnic Rector, Dr Theresa Akande, for her understanding, saying the institution led in the full implementation of CONTISS 15 as well as prompt promotion of workers.

    Akande called on the Federal Government to implement the recommendations of the Needs Assessment carried out for the  polytechnics some time ago “to enable a turnaround for the better for our polytechnics in the country.

    “Our sector is facing unimaginable challenges which are threatening to drown our existence as polytechnics,” she lamented.

    Urging the government to  honour its agreements with the academic communities, Akande said proper funding and equipping of polytechnics would help reduce incessant unrest as well as improve the standard of education.

  • NDDC to assist Ozoro Polytechnic

    The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr. Nsima Ekere, has assured the Governing Council of Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro of the Commission’s determination to assist the school with the provision of basic infrastructure such as roads and hostel accommodation.

    Speaking on behalf of the Managing Director, at the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt, the Executive Director Projects, Samuel Adjogbe, told the visiting members of the Governing Council, led by the Chairman, Funkekeme Solomon and the Rector, Prof. Job Akpodiete, that the Commission was making efforts to complete all on-gong projects.

    He said the Commission will also embark on new ones, such as the construction of hostel accommodation and other infrastructure to enable students learn under a conducive atmosphere.

    According to Adjogbe, NDDC was determined to do things differently by taking very hard decisions.

    He added: “We will no longer allow people to hide NDDC money in their pockets without delivering on projects. We are doing this to reposition the Commission.”

    The Chairman of the Ozoro Polytechnic Governing Council called on NDDC to prevail on the contractors handling the three major projects in the school, such as the 2-storey ICT Building, twin lecture theatre and one-kilometre road, to complete them.

    In another development, representatives of major oil bearing communities in Agbarha-Otor in Ughelli North Local Government Area, led by Comrade Ikpere Clement who were in the Commission to protest the deplorable condition of a road project abandoned in their communities, were received by the EDP on behalf of the NDDC MD/CEO.

    He hailed them for not taking the laws into their hands.

  • Police nab two in Akwa Ibom over kidnap of polytechnic founder

    The Police in Akwa Ibom have arrested two persons linked to the kidnapping of Sure Foundation Polytechnic founder, Dr Idongesit Udom.

    The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Donald Awunah, disclosed this to newsmen in Uyo on Wednesday.

    Awunah stated that the suspects were helping the police in their investigation.

    He explained that the police were doing their best to ensure that the victim was rescued alive.

    “This type of matter does not require force since the life of a person is involved. We are not relenting in our efforts to get the man freed from the kidnappers.

    “The Anti-Kidnapping Squad and the Operation Impact Strategy team have spread their intelligence; very soon, the man will be rescued,” he said.

    The commissioner appealed to the civil society to cooperate with security agencies by always giving information on crimes and criminal elements in their neighbourhood for prompt action.

    Udom was abducted by suspected kidnappers outside his country home in Ukanafun while walking to Qua Iboe Church on Sunday, April 9.

  • Nasarrawa: Students seek truce between labour unions, government to end strike

    Nasarrawa: Students seek truce between labour unions, government to end strike

     

    Students of tertiary institutions in Nasarawa State have called for truce between the state government and labour unions of the three higher institutions currently on strike.

    Some of the students told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews in Keffi on Wednesday that both sides must take step to end the strike in the interest of the students.

    NAN reports that the Joint Union of Tertiary Institutions had embarked on an indefinite strike on April 5, demanding for promotion, payment of their annual increment and other entitlements.

    The institutions involved in the strike include the College of Education, Akwanga, College of Agriculture, Lafia and Nasarawa State, Polytechnic, Lafia.

    The students called for understanding between the state government and the union in resolving the industrial action, so that it would not have adverse effect on the education sector.

    Mr Thomas Bulus, a student of Computer Science at the state Polytechnic in Lafia, said the strike was a set back to education.

    “The ongoing higher institutions workers strike has affected our education negatively as academic activities had stopped in these institutions.

    “The strike is unfortunate. No student will be comfortable staying at home, That is why, I want to use this medium to appeal to the state government and the organised labour to dialogue in order to end the strike in our interest.”

    Another student, Sarah Ali of College of Education, Akwanga, also appealed to the government and union to dialogue so as to end the strike.

    She noted that the strike had not only crippled economic activities but also affected the education sector negatively.

    “No nation could achieve speedy development without sound education; the strike has affected the state socio-economic development and our education negatively,” she said.

    Ali reminded the government and the union that the future of the state and the country at large lied on the proper education given to the youths.

    Mr Haruna Mohammed of College of Agriculture, Lafia said “we are still at home because of the strike and this is not fair.

    ‘‘Government should do something about it and the union should also have understanding with the government in order to end the strike,” he said.