.ASUP wants FG, N-Assembly to review PolyAct

By PETER OKUTU & OKONKWO EZE

THE Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana, chapter of Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, yesterday, called on both the Federal Government and National Assembly to review the Act establishing federal polytechnics as a way of proffering solution to the over three months strike embarked upon by polytechnics in the country.

Chairman of ASUP, Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana, Comrade Edmund Onyeneho, who made the call at a briefing in Afikpo, in solidarity with ASUP, blamed the current impasse on Federal Government’s insensitivity to the plight of polytechnic lecturers and students.

He said his chapter was fully committed to the struggle by the National body of ASUP to liberate the polytechnic system from the current neglect which had culminated in the disparity and discrimination of products of the polytechnic system by the society

He said: “ASUP demands the speedy review of the Federal Polytechnics Act. The National Assembly should do more than lip service in this regard. There is now an urgent need to review this Act and reposition polytechnics to effectively fulfil the goals of technological growth and development in Nigeria.

For avoidance of doubt, no demand of ASUP in the present situation is selfish. ASUP is only asking for government’s attention to the debilitating state of polytechnics and also to treat the products of the system not as second rate graduates.

“In other words, ASUP is asking government to do the right things by relating to the products of the polytechnic system on the basis of their quality and not the environment that produced them.

“It is worrisome that the Polytechnics have no Commission like the Universities and Colleges of Education in Nigeria. More insulting in this regard is that even Nomadic Education in Nigeria has a Commission.

“The Government should stop this brazen discrimination by urgently establishing a Commission for polytechnics and monothecnics in Nigeria

”Most polytechnics in Nigeria today, more especially state-owned polytechnics have unqualified and incompetent Rectors”

Meanwhile, members of ASUP in the Polytechnic were seen around the institution and within Afikpo town carrying placards with inscriptions such as “We want a revised scheme of service for Polytechnics” Release of White paper on visitation” “Polytechnic Act… overdue” “NBTE rejected yes! to NPC” in support of the ongoing strike embarked upon by the union.