By Joy Odor
The Federal Government Committee on Renegotiation of the 2010 agreements with the Union’s in Polytechnics has commenced meetings with union leaders to review, recommend, agree on previous agreements and new demands submitted by the various unions to ensure industrial harmony development.
According to him, the Union’s include Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANP) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (NASUP).
The Chairman of the Federal Government Re-Negotiation Committee, Alhaji Waziri Bulama who gave the information while briefing journalists in Abuja on Wednesday explained that some of the problems of the unions were on infrastructure, staff issues and policy that needed reforms.
According to him, the polytechnic education needed to receive the desired attention to play the role it ought to play in terms of providing skills for the productive sector.
He said this required collective responsibility to address the socio economic challenges facing the sector and country.
Alhaji Bulama, who is the Chairman, Governing Council of Waziri Umaru Federal Polytechnic Birnni Kebbi was of the opinion that the Federal Government is committed towards addressing the concerns of the unions in the polytechnic sector.
He mentioned that the Committee has received submissions from the three Union’s which would extensively studied and examined to arrive at an agreement acceptable to all parties.
Alhaji Bulama also explained that some of the problems of the unions were on infrastructure, staff issues and policy that needed reforms.
‘’The revitalisation of the Nigerian economy rest squarely on promotion of technical, vocational education and training.
“We are committed that this get the attention of all stakeholders,” he said.
Chairman of the Re-Negotiation Committee commended the leadership of the various unions for their patriotism towards drawing the attention of government and the Nigerian public towards the problem affecting the polytechnic sector.
Contributing, the National President of ASUP, Mr Anderson Ezeibe said the key demands of the union include repositioning technological education for national development, laws and status, supervision and regulation, funding for the sector, dichotomy between HND and degree holders and condition of service.
While the President of the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANP), Mr Philip Ogundipe, pleaded with President Muhammadu Buhari to sign into law the bill seeking to end the dichotomy between university degrees of Bachelor’s of Arts/Science( BA/BSc ) and the Higher National Diplomas ( HNDs) awarded by polytechnics.
