The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has accused the Federal Government of neglecting critical issues affecting the polytechnic education sector, warning that years of delay in addressing the problems are crippling growth and morale in the system.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Friday, ASUP President, Shammah Kpanja, lamented the slow pace of action on the union’s long-standing demands, including the establishment of the National Polytechnics Commission, a dedicated regulatory body akin to those overseeing universities and colleges of education. He urged the Federal Ministry of Education to “fast-track the transmission of the executive bill to the National Assembly” to pave the way for the commission’s creation.
Kpanja faulted the government’s continued reliance on external consultants for accreditation exercises in polytechnics, questioning “the competence and background of some of those engaged for the task.” He said the situation reflects broader policy failures, including the refusal to end the “disparity in the treatment of Higher National Diploma holders compared to university degree holders,” which he described as a major cause of demoralisation among graduates and a barrier to sectoral growth.
The union accused the government of failing to fully implement provisions of the 2010 ASUP-FGN agreement, citing unpaid Peculiar Academic Allowance and the incomplete rollout of the 25–35% salary review, which Kpanja noted “remains unimplemented despite being captured in the national budget.” ASUP also condemned the removal of certain allowances from the federal budget and the “inadequate follow-up from agencies such as the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) and the Federal Ministry of Education.”
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According to the union, the situation is even worse in state-owned polytechnics, where the new N70,000 national minimum wage is yet to be implemented in many states. ASUP also expressed frustration over the delay in releasing the second tranche of the approved NEEDS Assessment intervention fund, warning that no review has been conducted on the utilisation of the first tranche.
The union called for urgent reforms in the current quality assurance model for polytechnics, advocating “a more transparent and professionally managed process to safeguard educational standards.” It also stressed the need “to reconvene negotiations on the 2010 ASUP-FGN agreement, particularly on unresolved issues such as the payment of CONTISS 15 arrears and promotion arrears, some dating back to 2014 and 2019, respectively.”
Following what it described as “a lack of progress on multiple fronts,” the ASUP National Executive Council issued a 21-day ultimatum to the government to act or face industrial action.
“The union may be compelled to declare a trade dispute and withdraw services across public polytechnics and monotechnics nationwide should these issues remain unresolved,” Kpanja warned.
