The failure of Ogun State Government to domesticate and implement the Federal Polytechnic (Amendment) Act, 2019 in Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY) as specified by NBTE could cost the institution its much awaited accreditation.
The domestication of the Act remained a condition for the much-awaited accreditation and as a standard of measure in running an efficient Polytechnic in Nigeria.
According to the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), MAPOLY Chapter , the failure of the government to implement the Federal Polytechnic Act, 2019 has denied the Polytechnic’s accreditation of some courses by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
The lecturers in a communique issued at the end of its emergency Congress held on Tuesday said their position became imperative following the alleged persistent refusal of the state government to resolve lingering crisis affecting the Polytechnic and its staff.
In the communique jointly signed by ASUP chairman and Secretary, Babatunde Osifalujo and Tomisi Adegunle, said the quality of learning in the institution has dwindled due to non-existence of power supply and lack of materials and equipment for practicals in various laboratories.
The situation among others have angered the lecturers under the aegis of Academic Staff Union of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta to threaten to embark on industrial action.
The lecturers have however given the state government and the management of MAPOLY a 21-day ultimatum to attend to their demands to avert the industrial action .
MAPOLY lecturers’ threat came as the public workers in the state under the organised labour have embarked on indefinite strike on Tuesday.
“The Ogun State Government should urgently domesticate and implement the Federal Polytechnic (Amendment) Act, 2019 in Moshood Abiola Polytechnic as specified by NBTE as a condition for the much-awaited accreditation and as a standard of measure in running an efficient Polytechnic in Nigeria (please see the attached for emphasis).
The Union equally called on Governor Abiodun to wake up to his responsibility, stressing that 100 per cent reliance on Internally Generated Revenue as the only source for the monthly salaries can no longer sustain the institution.
The communique read partly, “In light of the various circumstances enumerated above, the Union hereby gives a 21 days ultimatum to the Ogun State Government and Management of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic to attend to all of these issues raised, failure of which shall result in the declaration of an industrial dispute by the Union.
“The dwindling quality of education provided to our student population as a result of almost non-existence of power supply and materials for practicals in the various laboratories failure of the government and management to respond to the NBTE normative document sent to the government through the management of the institution. The continuing reluctance of the government to domesticate the Federal Polytechnic Act, 2019.
“The sustenance of the polytechnic solely on Internally Generated Revenue. The failure of the government to announce a substantive rector for the institution. The persistent neglect of Ogun State government and the management of the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic to the plight of staff welfare.
“Consequent to an exhaustive deliberation on the foregoing issues, the Congress resolved and demand : The improvement of electricity supply in the polytechnic, as the non-availability of power supply has become inimical to lecture deliveries and depriving students from having hands-on practicals in various laboratories, studios and workshops.
“The practice of 100 per cent reliance on Internally Generated Revenue as the only source of monthly wages/salaries payments in the Polytechnic should be truncated herewith as the Union calls on the government of Ogun State to rise up to its responsibilities as the owner and employer of labour in the Polytechnic.
