The National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) has demanded the full inclusion of Polytechnic Institutions in the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) scheme, just as their university counterparts.
NAPS is an apex umbrella body representing over 25 million Nigerian Polytechnic students across Polytechnics, Monotechnics, Colleges of Health and Agriculture, and allied institutions awarding National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) certificates.
The demand was part of the issues raised in a communique issued at the end of the National Convention with delegates from all six geopolitical zones of the country which held in Niger State.
The communique signed by Comrade Muhammed Sarkis and Comrade Tijanni Oriyomi chairman and secretary of the Communiqué Drafting Committee respectively also appreciated the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) for the “Skill Up Artisan Programme” aimed at empowering Nigerian youths, just as it
demanded a long-overdue increase in the SIWES and Industrial Training (IT) allowance, to support students during their internship programmes.
NAPS also passed Vote of Confidence on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and pledged continued support for people-driven and result-oriented projects that will have positive impacts on the citizens.
“A vote of confidence was passed on President Tinubu’s leadership regarding the new minimum wage, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) transition, the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), economic palliatives, and the revised PMS price among other innovative policies aimed at national growth.”
On the students security and safety, NAPS commended the Nigerian security forces for their resilience in combating crime and terrorism, passing a vote of confidence on the nation’s security architecture, while calling for enhanced student security measures, including perimeter fencing in institutions and the establishment of student-community local security outfits to ensure the safety of students on and off campuses.
NAPS also urged that the campaign against illicit sexual activities, drug abuse, and all forms of harassment, particularly “sex-for-grades”, cybercrime and other exploitative practices in academic institutions to be intensified.
“NAPS will continue its advocacy for the conversion of Higher National Diploma (HND) certificates to Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) degrees to ensure polytechnic graduates remain competitive in the job market.
“NAPS strongly opposes the unjustifiable and drastic increase in school fees by some institutions, vowing to reject any policy that financially burdens Polytechnic students and urges all students to uphold discipline, academic excellence, and patriotism, contributing positively to national development”.
