The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP on Friday, threatened to embark on industrial action over government’s new policy. The union is insisting on going on strike if the government fails to suspend the new Scheme of Service in Nigeria Polytechnics, which took effect, June 7.
This was contained in a statement by the Edo State chapter of the union of Auchi Polytechnic after its emergency congress in Auchi on Friday.
The Chairman of ASUP, Auchi Chapter, Bamidele Osamudiamen, who addressed newsmen after the meeting decried the policy. He stated that the new scheme represented a “dead-end” to the growth and development of polytechnic education.
“Starting from Monday, we will kick start the process with a protest on the new scheme. While this will be followed by a strike,” the Chairman said.
Osamudiamen reiterated that the new scheme represented a “dead-end” to the career progression of lecturers in the polytechnic system.
He warned that the gains recorded by the sector in recent times would be eroded by the new scheme.
According to him, the new scheme of service will further reinforce the HND-BSc dichotomy.
The Chairman, therefore, condemned the document for promoting discriminatory practices in the education industry. He pointed that policy favoured University degree holders over HND holders in the country.
“The unfair career progression guide in the sector, particularly as it affects the teaching and non-teaching staff cadres is a recipe for crises. As such, it is not reflective of the remuneration accruing to the cadres.
“The contentious document, curiously, unjustifiably and unacceptably elongates the career progression steps of the lecturer cadre from a 7-step to a 9-step career development cadre. And at the same time, added an extra year for promotion to the final two levels.
“This implies that anyone on the lecturer cadre will now endure a minimum of 26 years from the base to the highest level.
“This is not acceptable. Particularly in view of the fact that this deviates from the norm in other sub-sectors. And that the retirement age in the sector remains unchanged,” Osamudiamen said
In his submission, the Rector of the Polytechnic Dr. Salisu Umar, backed the lecturers’ proposed protest against the new scheme. He, therefore, commended the national body of polytechnic on their stand on the issue.
According to the Rector, the new scheme will kill polytechnic education in the country. Hence, it should be suspended.
“My challenge in all of this is the way the polytechnic has been downgraded and relegated to the background.
“For instance, it takes a maximum of 18 years for a university lecturer to become a professor. But in the polytechnic; it takes a minimum of 18 years to become a chief lecturer.
“The polytechnic lecturers are made to play third fiddle or even second fiddle.
“I want to say that the new scheme of service is faulty. And it is fraught with lots of irregularities and should be thrown away,” Umar contended.
source: Daily Post
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