APPRAISING THE GERMANE ISSUES AND SCANDALS IN NIGERIA POLYTECHNICS: THE STRIKE ACTION AND SOLUTIONS. BY: Comrade AbdulRahman Agboola Polytechnic Education has been a great asset to our dear nation since the pre-colonial era as shown by the role played by the products of the Institution in the provision of both the middle and high level manpower in the development of this nation. During the pre-colonial Nigeria, the shortage of British trained experts led to the establishment of Yaba Technical Institute, School of Survey Oyo among others to train Technicians required at the middle level to develop the economy and the success of that initiative is evident in the viability of Textile, Railway, Power, Agriculture, Construction and other Industries in the early Nigeria. At the inception of Polytechnics in Nigeria, the duration of academic programmes obtained was two sessions for the award of National Diploma Certificate required at the middle level manpower and a handful of Universities were equally established to provide the high level manpower in that era. In recognition of the expanding population of the Country and the expedient need for more trained personnels at the high level man power of our economy, the Higher National Diploma was established in the 1980’s to adequately complement at the high level manpower. It is worthy to mention that the Polytechnics majorly concentrated on Technical and Engineering while the Universities majorly concentrated on Humanity and Science inclined disciplines where the graduates of both Institutions are mobilized for the National Youth Service Corps on equal merit. The anxiety in the Polytechnics is caused by the discriminatory recognition of the HND Graduates in both the Civil Service and Private Sector in terms of emolument, promotion, cadre and retirement. They are treated as second fiddle to the First Degree Graduates which is evidently caused by our lopsided Policies on Education and Career, which compels a holder of HND Certificate to pass through a compulsory Post Graduate Diploma before pursuing a Master Degree in any University in Nigeria. A critical comparison of the operations and standard of different disciplines in the two competing Institutions reveals that the Universities are not performing better in any way than the Polytechnics in terms of Course Instructions and performance of the products in the programmes available in the two Institutions especially in Financial Studies and Engineering. In recognition of the inherent potentials of HND graduates and the challenges confronting their career progressions, the stake holders commenced agitations for the autonomy to run First and Higher Degree Programmes in the Polytechnics for the products to have access to reach the peak of their carriers like their counterpart in the Universities. This agitation was greeted with mixed feelings base on the fear of lowering of Standards if the Polytechnics award degree and higher degrees which led to the establishment of Federal Universities of Technologies as an avenue for the Polytechnic Graduates in Science and Engineering to pursue Direct Entry and Master Degree Programmes at the expense of agitations for autonomy of Polytechnic Education even though many Polytechnics have reputation for running Degree Programmes in affiliation with reputable Universities in Nigeria. The agitation for the autonomy of Polytechnics to award degree and higher degree reached the peak in 1998 when the Unions in the Polytechnics embarked on an Industrial Action which led to the setting up of a Federal Government Committee saddled with the responsibility of looking at the issues causing anxiety in Polytechnics and Colleges of Education among other duties, headed by Dr. Yabani. The Committee recommended some that the First Generation Polytechnics be granted autonomy to award degree/higher degree programmes and the Salary of Principal Officers be raised from HATISS 13 to 15 among other progressive recommendations. The report was submitted and Federal Government of Nigeria approved these recommendations among others but most of the approved recommendations are yet to be implemented till date. In the year 2000, the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics led by Baba Oduwobi of Federal Polytechnic Ilaro, embarked on a long duration Industrial Action to achieve the release and implementation of the Federal Government White Paper on the approved recommendation of the Dr Yabani led Committee of 1998 which eventually led to the implementation of HATISS 15 but issues on dichotomy between HND and BSc Certificates still lingers as shown by the 2001 Agreements reached between the FGN and ASUP. It is very unfortunate to note most of the issues agreed upon between the FGN and the Polytechnic Stakeholders are yet to be implemented, in spite of the acceptance of guilt by the Federal Government and the assurance to eradicate all the discriminations against HND Certificates since 2001. In 2007, at the peak of agitations by the Stakeholders in Polytechnics, the Federal Government proposed the conversion of Yaba College of Technology and Kaduna Polytechnic to City Universities and all other Polytechnics to be converted to Campuses of Neighbouring Universities. This scandalous policy was rejected by the masses because of the consequences and serious negation of the objectives of Polytechnic Education that dealt with technical expertise and practical orientations which is not obtainable in the Conventional Universities. In 2009, the Federal Government approved the equality of HND and BSc at the entry level into the Service at the Polytechnic Institutions Level leading to the abolition of CONTISS 7 as entry point. By the new Policy, Staffs are to move to the next level refer as JACK UP leading to increase in the Salaries of Staffs. Since 2009, the Unions in the Polytechnics have been advocating for the implementation of this approval but did not succeed until the commencement of the ongoing Industrial Action in the Polytechnics for the past 7 Months. Though the Policy is now fully implemented but the Staffs are owed 48 Months Arrears accrued from the JACK UP which is the major basis of the ongoing strike action coupled with the demand for the AUTONOMY of Polytechnics and abolition of all discriminations hindering the Polytechnic Graduates from reaching the Peak of their Carriers in both the Civil Service and the Private Sector. It is crystal clear that the Unions have strong basis for their actions as the dichotomy between HND and BSc is a misnomer as established by the realities of the contents of knowledge of Graduates in Nigeria today. In other climes, dichotomy and discriminations do not exist between HND and BSc Certificates rather equal opportunities to prove their abilities in their chosen professions. The tantrum which has greeted the ongoing strike action by the Unions in the Polytechnics, based on the poor handling of the issues at stake by the Federal Government requires an appeal of well-meaning Nigerians in the interest of the victims of the Strike Actions. It is sacrosanct for the Union Leaders to be cautious of the divisions at the Chapters caused by the prolonging of the Strike which led to the pull out and resumptions of some chapters of the Union against the spirit of solidarity which exist in the Unions prior to the commencement of the industrial disharmony. The strike action has exposed the cluelessness and insincerity of the Federal Government as clearly shown by the inability of the FGN to negotiate appropriately with the striking workers and solve the issues. On this note, the Unions must be wary of losing the confidence of the masses because of the dangers involved in closing the Polytechnics more than necessary. It is very important for the Unions to expedite actions and end this strike favourably in the next one Month and this is achievable. The Students and the general masses are enjoined to show solidarity to the plight of the Polytechnics by hyping the advocacy towards the actualization of the worthy demands of the Unions while the Unions have to show extra ordinary seriousness in the STRUGGLE by commencing a consistent mass action to drive home their demands and must be ready to shift ground where necessary in the over all interest of the Nation. The Polytechnic Students are encouraged to endure the ongoing hardship as FREEDOM COMETH BY STRUGGLE, while the Workers should not be deterred with the punishment of NO WORK NO PAY by the establishment. Comrade AbdulRahman Agboola Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa Email: nycnpro@gmail 08032813279
Posted on: Wed, 21 May 2014 17:39:53 +0000
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