The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP), has accused the Federal Government of neglecting technical and vocational education in the country.
Mr Abdullahi Yelwa, Zone B Coordinator of the union said this at a press conference on Thursday in Jos.
According to him, policy makers have over the years given little or no priority to technical education, hence the total neglect of the polytechnics in the country.
“It is on record that no nation can develop above its educational system, particularly technological education; unfortunately, technical and vocational education has no space in the psyche of our policy makers.
“This, among others is responsible for the poor handling and misplacement of this sector by those concerned.
“Instead of government doing the needful and ensure proper positioning of the sector, it has turned the other way,” he said.
Yelwa also identified poor funding of polytechnics, shortfalls in personnel cost and withdrawal allowance, non-implementation of NEED Assessment Report, and poor condition of state-owned institutions as rationale for its ongoing strike.
Other reasons, according to him include non-release of CONTISS 15 migration arrears, delay in assenting to the amendment of the polytechnics Act, infractions in the appointments of rectors by state governments and continued victimisation of union leaders.
The coordinator said that the union was determined in raising the bar and ensuring an improved system in the polytechnics that would be the envy of all.
He vowed that nothing would deter the union in pressing the government to set a good ground for an educational system that would advance technology.
“ASUP has done its best to get the government’s attention to resolve the lingering issues raised with our renewed determination since 2017, but our efforts were treated with disdain.
“We wrote series of memoranda and had consultative meetings with government, but were all unsuccessful and subsequently, it led to the current strike action.
“It is unfortunate that we had to resolve to the last and this is the only option, and I assure you that we remain resolute in pursuance of these demands so that we can salvage the sector from further deterioration,” he said.
Yelwa called on government to resolve the impasse soon, to enable academic activities resume to save the sector from collapse.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that ASUP had on Dec. 12, 2018, in pressing home its demand embarked on a nationwide industrial action that has crippled academic activities in most polytechnics across the country.