JAMB, TETFund, FG discriminate against polytechnic graduates and teachers — ASUP

Nigeria's polytechnic sector is being discriminated against by the Federal Government, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), says the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP).

Speaking with journalist in Abuja, ASUP National President, Comrade Chibuzo Asomugha, said graduates and staff of polytechnics unfairly treated, relegated to the background and undermined by government policies and bodies.

"[Polytechnic] graduates and teachers are pathetically and consistently judged, not by the strength and character of their knowledge, learning and skills, but by the addresses of their institutions," Asomugha said.

He accused TETFund of going against the distribution ratio prescribed by law the disbursement of fund.

“The distribution of the fund between universities, polytechnics and colleges of education is statutory in the ratio of 2:1:1 or 25 per cent; 12.5 per cent; and 12.5 per cent.

"The reality on ground, however, is the gross short-changing of the polytechnic sector in the disbursement of the funds, especially in areas of special interventions, high impact intervention and staff development and training.

"The situation has left most of the polytechnics underdeveloped and dysfunctional.”

The union boss also accused JAMB of giving inferior cut-off mark for admission into polytechnics as against the provision for admission into polytechnics.

“The admission policy of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, which profiles polytechnics as undesirable destinations for pursuit of tertiary education is absurd and unfortunate.”

According to him, the cut-off marks difference is not only discriminatory, but also makes polytechnics seem inferior.

“Candidates who sit for matriculation examinations into tertiary institutions deserve equal treatment."

“Candidates seeking to be admitted into the polytechnics should be placed on the same benchmark as their counterparts.

"This is to breach public perception which places our sector as inferior or incapable of competing with the best in terms of service delivery.”

READ: ASUP says Buhari's TSA is not good for Nigeria's tertiary institutions

Asomugha also spoke about the Treasury Single Account (TSA) of the Federal government which was introduced to block financial leakages and prevent mismanagement of government's revenue.

He argued that the TSA, while being "a welcome development that will block financial leakages, stem profligacy and track government’s revenue profile", will "tie down the processes of provision of daily needs of the institutions and therefore hamper efficient service delivery" if applied to the education sector.