By Zainab Olufunmi
The Academic Union of Polythenics (ASUP) has tasked the Federal government to with a matter of urgency address the issues surrounding the National Skills Acquisition.
This, according to the union will make the New National Minimum Wage workable with Nigerians.
The union particularly called on states of Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Jigawa, Sokoto and Zamfara to urgently implement the 25 percent salary increment for their members to foster productivity and industrial harmony.
The Zone A Coordinator of ASUP, Dr. Abdulazeez Badaru, stated this while briefing newsmen on the emergency meeting of the Union held at the Kano State Polytechnic on Friday in Kano.
He said the document release in June by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) diverged significantly drafted by stakeholders after extensive consultation and deliberation.
According to him, the imposition of national skills qualifications as a mandatory requirement for academic staff advancement is misguided.
“We have identified a troubling inconsistency in entry points for graduate assistants.
“The NBTE document unfairly lowers the bar for Bachelor’s degree holding, while disadvantaging HND holders, thereby exacerbating the HND/Bsc dichotomy.
“The reduction of terminal levels for several cadres, the reclassification of technologists as non-academic staff, and exclusion of HND holders from key administrative positions,”he said.
Badaru said the union has issue 15-day ultimatum to the federal government of to halt it’s implementation and address all outstanding issues.
“Registrar and bursar cadres futher entrench this discrimination, NBTE’s actions risk deepening division within the polythenic sector.
“Scheme of service for Polythenics is previously described as rough work and convene a stakeholders meeting to address all concern.
“We want to highlight detrimental policies and action of the NBTE Executive Secretary, which include promoting programmes that undermine our quest for parity with university graduates and support divisive group,”he said.
He further explained that the union condemned the unfolding allegations made by the executive secretary regarding our stance on the PhD requirement for promotion.
Badaru embraced progress made by states in their zones in advancing technology education.
