The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has once again raised alarm over what it describes as the government’s persistent failure to address critical issues plaguing Nigeria’s polytechnic education sector. The union’s National Executive Council (NEC), at the end of an emergency meeting in Abuja, accused the Federal Government and several state governments of reneging on agreements, withholding owed salaries, and neglecting policies crucial to the survival and progress of the sector.
Addressing journalists, ASUP leadership lamented the non-release of the circular by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) to cover the Peculiar Academic Allowance for polytechnic lecturers—a core provision in the ASUP/FGN 2010 agreement. According to the union, the allowance has been removed from the budgeting template, and the Federal Ministry of Education (FME) has yet to intervene.
Equally troubling, ASUP decried the government’s refusal to release arrears of the 25/35% salary review covering a 12-month period, as well as the non-implementation of the increment in many state-owned polytechnics. The union noted that this is compounded by the failure of most state governments to implement the National Minimum Wage.
Another major grievance is the delay in granting a dual mandate structure for polytechnics—a reform aimed at eliminating long-standing discrimination against Higher National Diploma (HND) holders. ASUP insists that the continued refusal to approve this reform perpetuates prejudice against polytechnic graduates.
Other contentious issues raised include:
- Non-release of the second round of NEEDS Assessment Intervention despite funds being approved.
- FME’s outsourcing of quality assurance activities in polytechnics, which ASUP says raises ethical, economic, and professional concerns.
- Refusal to implement sectoral components of the approved roadmap for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), particularly the establishment of a dedicated commission for the sector.
- Non-payment of promotion arrears—some dating back to 2019—and non-implementation of promotions in many state-owned institutions, which the union says has left staff demoralized.
- Government’s refusal to reconvene renegotiation of the ASUP/FGN 2010 Agreement.
- Failure to domesticate relevant portions of the Federal Polytechnics Act in state-owned polytechnics, leading to what ASUP calls “unneeded gulf in standards” between federal and state institutions.
ASUP warned that the continued neglect of these pressing issues not only demotivates staff but also endangers the quality and competitiveness of Nigeria’s polytechnic education system.
The union hinted at possible escalations if the government fails to act, though it did not disclose specific plans for industrial action.
