The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has rejected the Federal Government’s planned outsourcing of quality assurance in the nation’s polytechnics.
Zonal Coordinator of ASUP Zone B, Lumpye Simji, told reporters in Bauchi that the union had issued a 21-day ultimatum to the government, warning that the move threatens academic standards and institutional integrity.
Simji described the policy, which was approved by the Federal Ministry of Education and implemented through the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), as ethically flawed, economically unsound, and detrimental to the board’s core mandate. He said outsourcing would undermine the credibility of polytechnic certificates, weaken oversight, and compromise the future of technical education in the country.
ASUP Chairman at the Federal Polytechnic Bauchi, Hussaini Yaro, added that members would withdraw their services if the ultimatum expires without action. He noted that unresolved issues in the sector include the non-release of the Peculiar Academic Allowance circular, unpaid arrears of the 25/35 per cent salary review, delayed infrastructural funding, non-implementation of promotions, and continued discrimination against HND holders.
(NAN)