The Senior Staff Association Of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP) is seeking for the establishment of polytechnic commission. SSANIP argued that it is only the Polytechnic sub-sector remained the only sub-sector in the education sector without a Commission.

His is contained in the communiqué issued at the end of the GENERAL Executive Council (GEC) Meeting of The Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP) held on Thursday, September 22nd, 2022 at the Comrade Oyerinde Olaitan Hall of Pascal Bafyau House (Labour House), Abuja. Below is the full text of the communiqué.

A COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE GENERAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL (GEC) MEETING OF THE SENIOR STAFF ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA POLYTECHNICS (SSANIP) HELD ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22ND, 2022 AT THE COMRADE OYERINDE OLAITAN HALL OF PASCAL BAFYAU HOUSE (LABOUR HOUSE), ABUJA.

The General Executive Council of the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics held is quarterly meeting on Thursday September 22′ , 2022 and a wide range of issues about a the growth and development of Polytechnic education in the country were deliberated upon. At the end of the meeting, the following resolutions were arrived at:

1. THE SECURITY SITUATION IN THE COUNTRY

Council-in-Session resolved to commend the Federal Government as well as the Nigerian Armed Forces for the recent spate of sustained offensive on terrorists (bandits) hideouts, particularly in the North-West and North-Central parts of the country. Council, however, implored the Federal Government not to relent in the onslaught so as not to leave a breathing space for these enemies of the state until they were all either neutralized or voluntarily surrendered and be made to face justice for their crimes against humanity.

• NON-RELEASE OF THE CONDITION AND SCHEME OF SERVICE DOCUMENT BY THE HEAD OF CIVIL SERVICE OF THE FEDERATION

Council-in -Session expressed its displeasure at the continued non-release of the new Scheme and Conditions of Service document by the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF). While reiterating the fact that the latest of such document from the regulatory agency had already become obsolete and the need for a replacement is incontrovertible, the continued delay in the release of the reviewed document after all the inputs of relevant stake holders had become worrisome. Council therefore, implored relevant authorities to prevail on the HoCSF to endeavor to do the needful and avoid needless crisis over a supposed routine exercise.

• RE-NEGOTIATION OF THE 2010 AGREEMENT

Council-in-Session noted the resolve of the Federal Government to release the sum of 15 billion naira as re-vitalization Fund for Polytechnics in the country. However, Council resolved to impress it upon the Federal Government that it needed to do.

• USURPATION OF NON–TEACHING POSITIONS BY THE TEACHING STAFF Council-in-Session noted that in spite of the resolve to call the attention of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to the continued usurpation of many Non-Teaching position by teaching staff of many Polytechnics (particularly the State-Owned institutions), the usurpation had continued unabated. Positions such as those of Director of Sports, Director of Physical Planning, Director of 1CT, Director Works and Services, Public Relation Officers etc, are most often taken over by teaching staff. Council therefore, wishes to state that the continued flagrant disregard and violation of NBTE directive on the subject-matter would compel the Union to instigate the regulatory body to place commensurate sanctions on such erring institutions. Council therefore, charged Zonal Coordinators to collate lists of all erring institutions (Federal and State) for onward correspondence with the NBTE for further actions.
• NON-PAYMENT OF 30 MONTHS HALF SALARY ARREARS AND HAPHAZARD PAYMENT OF SALARIES

Council-in-Session noted the condition of non-payment of 30 months half salary arrears in State Polytechnics in Osun State (College of Technology, Esa-Oke, Osun State and Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, Osun State). Of equal concern was the reported cases of haphazard payment of salaries in Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, Abia (32 months unpaid salaries), Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic, Bauchi and Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo (over 11 months unpaid salaries) States. Council resolved to implore concerned authorities to endeavour to do the needful for the sake of the well-being of workers in these institutions and a more committed and dedicated workforce.

• NON-DOMESTICATION/VIOLATION OF THE 2019 POLYTECHNIC LAW BY FEDERAL AND STATE POLYTECHNICS

Council-in-Session had been inundated with information about the reluctance of State Governments to adopt and domesticate the 2019 New Polytechnic Law in the running of Polytechnics in their domain. It equally noted the series of violation of the provisions of the New Polytechnic Act by some Federal Polytechnics. Council implored all concerned States to note that the NBTE remained the regulatory authority over all Polytechnics in Nigeria and as such, a flagrant disregard to its laws or partial adoption of its laws would not be in the best interest of all. Council therefore, charged all State Governments concerned to ensure that the needful is done in good time to avoid chaos, and in the overall interest of the Polytechnic of this Act to desist from doing so, as Council had resolved to take necessary action on these.

• NON–PAYMENT OF ARREARS OF CONTISS 15

Council remained disturbed at the continued non-response of Federal Government to the issue of the non-payment of arrears of CONTISS 15 after many appeals and correspondences on the subject-matter. Council therefore, resolved that a continued disregard for the payment of these arrears would be a potential recipe for industrial dispute in the nearest future.

• NON–PAYMENT OF PROMOTION ARREARS

Council equally noted the continued non-payment of the 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 Promotion Arrears to workers in Federal Polytechnics and frowned at the development. Council wishes to state that the continued delay in the payment of these arrears would be inimical to cordial industrial relations. It therefore, resolved that this issue should be addressed in earnest and with utmost priority as a cursor to industrial harmony.

• ESTABLISHMENT OF A POLYTECHNIC COMMISSION

Council-in-Session reiterated that the Polytechnic sub-sector remained the only sub-sector in the education sector without a Commission. Council was of the conviction that the NBTE needed to be unbundled and Polytechnics bequeathed with its own Commission. Council maintains that the Polytechnic would be better supervised and regulated under a Commission. It therefore, implored the relevant authorities to holistically look into this request in the best interest of the future of Polytechnic education.

1. NON-RELEASE OF DEDUCTED UNION DUES AND OTHER DEDUCTIONS BY SOME STATE POLYTECHNICS

Council-in-Session expressed concern over the non-release of deducted check-off dues by some State-Owned Polytechnics, even when such deductions formed parts of members’ salaries. Council thereafter, resolved to advise concerned State Governments and Polytechnics to endeavor to pay up the backlog of arrears of these dues and other deductions in the best interest of industrial harmony.

Corn. Adebaojo Ogunsipe, ECPOM          Com. Hussaini Yusuf Gwandu, MIPS

            National President                                             National Secretary