Africa-Press – Nigeria. Polytechnic lecturers, under the aegis of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, have given the federal government a 21-day ultimatum to meet its series of unresolved issues affecting the polytechnic education sector.
This is as the union warned that failure to do so may result in industrial action that could disrupt academic activities nationwide.
According to the union, among the key demands is the establishment of a dedicated regulatory body, the National Polytechnics Commission, similar to those governing universities and colleges of education.
It expressed disappointment over what it described as delays in the legislative process required to actualize the commission.
Addressing newsmen in Abuja on Friday, ASUP President, Comrade Shammah Kpanja, urged the Federal Ministry of Education to expedite the transmission of the executive bill to the National Assembly.
Kpanja equally faulted the continued use of external consultants for accreditation exercises in polytechnics, raising concerns about the competence and background of some contractors engaged in the process.
The union maintained its long-standing concern over the disparity in the treatment of Higher National Diploma (HND) holders compared to university degree holders.
ASUP further stated that the persistent discrimination undermines the morale of polytechnic graduates in the workforce and hampers the sector’s development.
“The union may be compelled to declare a trade dispute and withdraw services across public polytechnics and monotechnics nationwide should these issues remain unresolved,” the ASUP leadership warned.
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