Strike looms as poly lecturers threaten government with suspension of curriculum

This was stated by the Auchi Polytechnic trade union federation in Edo State at an extraordinary congress in Auchi on Friday.

Speaking to journalists, the Chairman of ASUP, Auchi Chapter, said Comrade Bamidele Osamudiamensaid that the new system would “Dead end” to the growth and development of polytechnic education.

“Starting Monday, we will begin the process with a protest against the new system, followed by a strike,” he said.

Osamudiamen reiterated that the new system for the career development of lecturers in the polytechnic system was a “dead end”.

He said the new system would wipe out recent gains in the industry.

In his opinion, the new service scheme will further reinforce the HND-BSc dichotomy.

He condemned the document for promoting discriminatory practices that favor university graduates over college graduates in the country.

“The unfair career policies in the industry, particularly with regard to teaching and non-teaching staff, are a recipe for crisis as they are disproportionate to the remuneration to which the staff are entitled.

“The controversial document strangely, unjustified and unacceptably extends the career stages of the lecturer cadre from a 7-level to a 9-level career development cadre, while adding an additional year for advancement to the last two levels.

“This means that everyone in the teaching cadre, from the basic level to the highest level, must now persevere for at least 26 years.

“This is unacceptable, especially given that this deviates from the norm in other sub-sectors and the retirement age in the industry remains unchanged,” Osamudiamen said

The Rector of the Polytechnic Salisu Umarsupported the lecturers’ protest against the new system and praised the national association of universities of applied sciences for its stance on the matter.

According to the rector, the new program will destroy polytechnic education in the country and should therefore be suspended.

“My criticism of all this is that the polytechnic is being devalued and pushed into the background.

“For example, it takes a maximum of 18 years for a university lecturer to become a professor; at a polytechnic, however, it takes a minimum of 18 years to become a lecturer.

“The university lecturers are assigned the role of third or even second fiddle.

“I would like to say that the new service system is flawed and full of irregularities and should be discarded,” Said Umar.

Umar said that the board of rectors of polytechnics was not in line with the provisions of the new system.

“We thought the program was good until we took a critical look at the regulations.” he said.

However, the principal urged the ASUP to remain peaceful in their protest against the suspension of the new roster.