The leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has rejected the appointment of new rectors and other principal officers for the six newly established federal polytechnics situated in Oyo, Enugu, Cross River, Plateau, Borno and Benue States.
In a letter dated April 9, 2021, ASUP President Anderson Ezeibe said the appointment was in violation of provisions of the Federal Polytechnics (Amendment) Act 2019.
He said five of the six new rectors were not qualified for the provisions having fallen short of the requirements captured in Section 8, 2 (a) I of the Act.
“A rundown of the profiles of the beneficiaries of this latest act of impunity shows that 5 out of the 6 persons do not fit into the requirements of the law for appointment of Rectors in Federal Polytechnics in the Country. These beneficiaries include: the appointees for Federal “It is regrettable that the government, through officials of the Federal Ministry of Education has become principal violators of the laws governing the operations of the Nigerian Polytechnics.
“This latest assault is despite the contents of a recent ruling of the National Industrial Court in Abuja, where the provisions of the Federal Polytechnics (Amendment) Act 2019 were affirmed by the court and the Federal Ministry of Education and her officials undertaking to observe the provisions in totality.”
Meanwhile, the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP) has called on the Federal Government to begin plans for establishment of National Polytechnics Commission (NPC) .
The association, during its General Executive Council meeting and special delegates conference held in Abuja at the weekend, said the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), as currently constituted, could no longer address the needs of the polytechnics in view of the new developments as contained in the amended Polytechnic Act.
