The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has criticized the federal government for its lack of urgency in addressing the issues facing polytechnic education in Nigeria.
The union, currently on a two-week strike that began on December 2, 2024, accused the government of handling the challenges facing polytechnics with insufficient seriousness.
Speaking at the Yaba College of Technology on Friday, Masopa Nurudeen, Coordinator of the Zonal Executives Council, Zone C, expressed the union’s frustration, stating that the government has consistently ignored the union’s concerns.
He highlighted several issues impacting the sector, including the controversial appointment process for the new Rector at the Federal Polytechnic Nekede, which he said violated the provisions of the Federal Polytechnics Act of 2019.
“The Governing Council of Federal Polytechnic, Nekede has shown a disregard for due process in selecting a new Rector,” Nurudeen said.
He also mentioned the failure to follow proper procedures in the appointment of a Rector at the Federal Polytechnic Wannune.
The union leader pointed out that while the government swiftly intervened in a similar situation involving the appointment of a Vice-Chancellor at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, it had not taken similar action in the case of the polytechnics.
“The Nekede issue occurred before the UNIZIK case, but the government responded promptly to the university’s matter while ignoring ours. This conduct can rightly be seen as discriminatory against the polytechnic sector,” Nurudeen added.
Another key issue raised was the non-release of the NEEDS Assessment intervention funds for tertiary institutions for 2023, which have yet to be disbursed even as 2024 comes to a close.
The union has expressed deep dissatisfaction over this delay, further fueling its ongoing strike.
Nurudeen affirmed that the union would not relent in pressing for its demands.
He hinted that if the government fails to take meaningful action after the two-week strike, the union may continue its industrial action into the next year.
“After the two-week strike, the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) will reconvene to decide on the next steps. If no substantial progress is made, we will not hesitate to resume our action in the new year,” he concluded.
