…gives three weeks ultimatum
The Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP) has threatened to embark on an indefinite industrial action should the Federal Government fails to issue a white paper on the implementation of the abolition of HND/BSC dichotomy.
The SSANIP in a release signed by its National Public Relations Officer, Adebanjo Ogunsipe said they would paralyse the activities in Polytechnics nationwide if the Head of Civil Service of the federation Winifred Oyo-Ita did not release the white paper for the implementation across the country.
The Union said it has issued a three-week ultimatum to the federal government to take serious actions on the dichotomy, saying, a trade dispute would be declared after the expiration if nothing is done.
On the funding of the government-owned Polytechnics across the country, the association
alleged that the Federal Government is paying little or no attention to the issue of funding of the Polytechnic sector.
It further warned that a trade dispute would be declared if the federal government fails to urgently release the outcome of the NEEDS Assessment Committee’s report and make funds available for the immediate implementation of the recommendations that the report contained.
SSANIP also reiterated its call for the constitution of governing councils for all Federal Polytechnics pointing that the smooth running of these institutions has been greatly hampered by bureaucratic bottlenecks involved in the process of securing approvals from the Minister of Education.
The Association urged the federal government to appoint new Rectors for Federal Polytechnic currently being run in acting capacities which include Federal Polytechnic, Damaturu, Federal Polytechnic Bida, Kaduna Polytechnic, Federal Polytechnic Offa and Auchi Polytechnic.
SASSNIP which commended the federal government’s effort in curbing insurgency in the North-East geo-political zone of Nigeria gave kudos to the Nigeria Armed forces which has stood up to the security challenges of the Nation.
The Association however declared its support for the federal government on the fight against corruption and sought a synergy between the federal government and Nigeria Judiciary in order to fasten the process of administration of justice on corruptions cases so that culprits could be brought to book as a deterrent to other Nigerians.
The Association noted with the dismay the state of the nation’s economy and its harsh effects on the vast majority of Nigerians calling on the federal government to adopt a more pragmatic approach that could get the country out of the current economic recession.
Vanguard Newspaper