The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) wishes to bring to the attention of the public that the recently approved Schemes of Service for the Polytechnic sector has been circulated and proposals for amendments of grey areas passed to the Mother of Skills in Nigeria, the Head of Service of the Federation, Dr. Mrs. Folasade Yemi-Esan, CFR. The 2024 Schemes is a revolutionary document with its recognition of HND holders for the first time, as Graduate Assistants like their University counterparts in our Polytechnics. It also requires Principal/Chief Lecturers to have Doctorate degrees. This requirement cannot be negotiated. This is because while we ask for parity between Universities and Polytechnics, we can't allow the highest academics in Polytechnics to have a master's degree only. The indolent academics who, in the past, run and hid in polytechnics to avoid doctorate degrees, shall henceforth have no hiding place anymore. There are, however, many areas that require amendment including dichotomy against HND holders in other cadres, omission of some cadres, allowing at least one skipping for all cadres like it is in other tertiary institutions in Nigeria, and not elongating the waiting period for all promotions beyond 3 years. These observations from the Committee of Rectors of Federal Polytechnics, Polytechnic staff unions, and the National Association of Polytechnic students have been forwarded to the Head of Service. A clause, which the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP, a union dominated by state polytechnics because of their larger numbers) raised, was the introduction of the Nigerian Skills Qualification (NSQ) certificate for the promotion of lecturers. NSQ is not an informal qualification as misjudged by ASUP. It is already approved and recognized in the National Schemes of Service. Every Polytechnic student from this year has to do a Mandatory Skills Qualification (MSQ), before graduation. This is a major paradigm shift in polytechnic education in Nigeria so that we produce diploma holders with skills. ‘You cannot give what You Don’t Have’ and that’s why the NSQ was Introduced for the promotion of lecturers who should drive the MSQ. This requirement will additionally make Polytechnic lecturers unique, having both academics and hands-on skills. The NBTE has noted the appeal made by the Federal Polytechnics Academic Staff Union (FEPASU) and wishes to say that the Schemes of Service is strictly for the Federal Polytechnics that they represent. Federal Polytechnics have ownership and governance peculiarities making them different from the State Polytechnics. And more importantly, education is on the concurrent list in our Constitution and NBTE cannot therefore impose the new Scheme of Service (after its final validation), on any state polytechnic. As such, ASUP should be reduced to where they belong, the state polytechnics, and the new Scheme is not for them. All our accreditations in state polytechnics shall henceforth be strictly on academic programs only to ensure standards are maintained. In 2022 and on a petition from ASUP, NBTE withdrew the operational license of Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, for failing to pay staff salaries for 36 months. Halfway into the struggle, when only six months arrears were paid, the same ASUP wrote begging for the license to be restored. Not anymore. ASUP shall henceforth do its battle alone in their primary constituency, the state polytechnics. Let me express our appreciation to NAPS, SSANIP, NASU and FEPASU for handling this matter maturely and sending constructive criticisms which shall surely be looked into and resolved before the new Schemes become fully operational. Finally, the NBTE wishes to appeal to the father of the nation, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to kindly extend the tenure of the current Head of Service of the Federation to enable her complete the good work she had started and provide us with a final progressive Schemes of Service for the Polytechnic sector before she retires. We never had a Head of Service who understands and values skills like the current one.
Prof Idris Bugaje
Executive Secretary, NBTE 15TH JULY, 2024