The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has called on the Federal Government to domesticate a law establishing National Commission for Polytechnic to enhance quality assurance in the polytechnics.
ASUP National President, Comrade Shammah Kpanja, argued that the universities have the National Universities Commission (NUC), the Colleges of Education have the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), but the Polytechnics are the only tertiary sector without a dedicated commission.
“As a union, we are insisting that there should be a dedicated commission to regulate quality assurance in the polytechnics. What is happening now is that we are put into a board that regulates sub-tertiary institutions like technical colleges and vocational institutions, and NBTE handles all of them together”.
He maintained that these were too much for one Commission to handle, “and we are concerned about this”, Kpanja stated.
The National president of ASUP made this known at the official commencement of the 18th National Delegates Conference (NDC) held in Jos, Plateau State.
Kpanja emphasised that, “Polytechnics have grown, the manpower has increased. The quality has increased, especially through the intervention of TETFund.
“One of our agitations is that Polytechnics should be allowed to mount ‘dual mode’— that is, ND and B.Tech — so that after graduation, you can migrate to B.Tech.
“We are emphasising this because the discrimination and dichotomy against HND products is not helping the growth of our country. Look at our products; the maximum number of years they spend before obtaining their certificate is five years two years ND, one year industrial attachment, and another two years HND.
“But despite that, they do not go beyond a particular level in public service. They are discriminated against, they are dehumanised, and they are placed in cadres that are not even the same as their university counterparts.This has to affect you, it has to affect the system.”
Comrade Kpanja also stated as unnecessary, the conversion of polytechnics into universities by the federal government and some state governments.
“This clearly shows that the Federal Government has no focused position on technical education that we have always promoted — education that should serve as a driver to take us out of insecurity and joblessness. Because we believe that with polytechnics, with adequate funding, we have the capacity to train people to use their hands, to acquire skills that will enable them not only to become self-employed but also employers of labour.”
On the welfare package issues, the ASUP president confirmed in some polytechnics, the salary package being enjoyed was last approved since 2010.
“Since 2010, this salary package called CONPCASS was approved. And you know, from 2010 to now, the consumer price index, the purchasing power, the inflation ratio — what our members have been receiving cannot solve their daily needs. Chief Lecturers cannot even fuel their vehicles to go to work,” he said.
Pleateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, who was represented at the gathering by his deputy, Ngo Josephine Piyo, charged the labour union leaders to equip themselves with the competencies of modern management, invest in training, promote ethical leadership and nurture young professionals within their unions.
“Let this conference not only produce resolutions, but also produce visionaries who will lead this country into the future of work”, Piyo mentioned.
LEADERSHIP reports that the ASUP 18th National Delegates Conference tagged: “Migrating from Trade Unionism to Management: Harnessing the Benefits in Role Changes for the Next Phase of the Struggle”, would hold from 10th to 12th December, 2025.
