The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has voiced its strong support for the bill before the National Assembly seeking to establish a National Polytechnics Commission.
In a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja, ASUP President Shammah Kpanja confirmed the union’s endorsement of the bill, sponsored by Idu Igariwey, which is currently awaiting its final reading and passage in the House of Representatives.
Kpanja highlighted that the bill had garnered unanimous backing from stakeholders during a public hearing held in August 2024. He noted that the proposal is part of the approved Road Map for the Education sector for 2024–2027 and has the endorsement of the Federal Ministry of Education.
“This effort is coming after several failed legislative attempts in the past on the same subject,” Kpanja remarked.
However, Kpanja criticized a counter-proposal to establish a Commission for Technical Education, dismissing it as a superficial change of name that lacks meaningful impact. He described the alternative proposal as self-serving and a distraction that could derail the efforts of the House of Representatives.
The ASUP president emphasized that Nigerian Polytechnics and Monotechnics, currently regulated by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), deserve a dedicated commission. He pointed out that over 700 institutions are under the NBTE’s purview, leading to regulatory challenges.
“Our union has long advocated for the establishment of a separate Commission to regulate the tertiary education institutions currently mixed within the NBTE’s framework,” Kpanja stated.
According to him, creating a National Polytechnics Commission would enhance the regulation of Polytechnics and Monotechnics, aligning their oversight with practices in other tertiary education sub-sectors.
