BS.C/HND Dichotomy: Sign The Bill Into Law As Parting Gift - SSANIP to Buhari

The Zone "F" (South-West Zone) of the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP) has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to endeavour to sign this bill into law, so that the age-long rivalry would be handled once and for all. The Council believes that signing this bill into law would be a parting gift from the President to the Polytechnic sub-sector.

The Council held her meeting at Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Osun State between Monday 3rd April and Wednesday 5th April, 2023. At the meeting, issues of importance to the welfare of her members in the Polytechnic sub-sector, particularly in the South-West and nationally in general were extensively discussed.

The Council noted that while the 2023 General Elections have come and gone, emerging events showed that utterances and actions tending toward divisiveness in the nation had been engaged in by all parties. It therefore, implored the Federal Government to endeavour to arrest the trend while also calling for restraints and caution by all political parties in utterances and press releases by their spokespersons and that are capable of dividing the country. Council believes that there are laid down procedures for channeling grievances just as it is convinced that we are all better off as a united Nigeria.


INCOMPLETE PAYMENT OF SALARY IN FEDERAL POLYTECHNICS
Council frowned at the incomplete payment of salaries in most Federal Polytechnics for the months of January, February and March, 2023. Council viewed this development as an indirect attempt to cripple normal and Union activities in Federal Polytechnics and therefore, resolved to advise the Federal Government as well as all relevant authorities to ensure the release of withheld third-party deductions (Union dues, loan deductions, cooperative deductions etc) and avert the impending resultant crises.

GOODWILL MESSAGE TO ALL VICTORIOUS GOVERNORS IN THE SOUTH-WEST
Council-in-Session sends goodwill messages to the President-Elect as well as all state governors in the south-west. Council wishes to remind their Excellencies that their re-election were an assurance from the populace that, even where there were rooms for improvement, their record of stewardship had appealed to them. It therefore, implores all elected Executive Governors from the zone to continue to put the interest of the citizens first in all that they do, so that posterity would be fair to them. It further commended His Excellencies, the Executive Governors of Oyo and Lagos states, Engr. Seyi Makinde and Babajide Sanwo-Olu respectively for their people-oriented policies. Council equally congratulated the Executive Governor of Osun State, Sen. Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke on his 100 days in office. Council commended all welfare packages so far put in place for workers in Osun state.

CHALLENGES OF CONTRIBUTORY PENSION SCHEME IN STATE POLYTECHNICS
Council expressed worry over the continued ill-treatment meted out to workers on the Contributory Pension Scheme in many State Polytechnics. Council frowned at the inconsistent, erratic and non-remittance of employers’ contributions as well as deducted employee’s contributions into the scheme. It resolved to put machineries in place to invoke relevant provisions of the Contributory Pension Scheme Act to compel concerned State Governments to do the needful in good time.

NON-ADOPTION OF 65 YEARS RETIREMENT AGE IN SOME STATE POLYTECHNICS
Council expressed concern over the passivity of the Osun State Government on the issue of the 65 years retirement age for workers in the state. It therefore, implores the State Government to make categorical and official statement on its position on the retirement age for workers in the state, so that the current government would be counted on the good side of workers welfare; a place we believed it stands.

NON-IMPLEMENTATION OF YEAR 2020 GOVERNMENT WHITE PAPER ON THE OKE-OGUN POLYTECHNIC CRISIS
Council deliberated on the report from The Oke-Ogun Polytechnic, Saki, particularly on the 2020 Government White Paper on the institution. It expressed concern over the continued delay by the Governing Council of the institution to implement the contents of the white paper. Council is concerned by the turn of events in the institution and resolved to recommend that the institution Governing Council should ensure the implementation of the Government White Paper without further delay and thus return the Polytechnic back to the path of peace, justice, progress and development.

USURPATION OF NON-TEACHING POSITIONS IN SOME STATE POLYTECHNICS
Council-in-Session had been inundated by unrepentant disposition of the Management of some State Polytechnics to continue to perpetrate this usurpation of Non-Teaching positions in favour of the Teaching Cadres. Of particular concern were the Director of ICT, the P.R.O, Director of Works, Director of Sports, Director of MIS etc. Council resolved to get update on all complaints before the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) on the subject-matter and ensure that concerned institutions have their day with the regulatory body.

NON-PAYMENT OF SALARIES OF WORKERS
Council got a report of the continued non-payment of salaries to staff of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo State. A condition where workers had been owed eleven months salaries (i.e January 2017, June 2022- March 2023) as well 40% of December 2016 salary is most inhuman, to say the least and highly insensitive of any employer. Council therefore, implored the State Government as well as all concerned authorities to commit time and resources toward resolving this situation in the spirit of fairness, and in the face of the current economic situation in the country.

NON-ESTABLISHMENT OF A CONGREGATION
Council deliberated on the report from Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo State with regard to the non-establishment of a Congregation in the Polytechnic. Of particular concern is the fact that the institution’s Management had flagrantly disregarded all calls for the establishment of a Congregation over the years. Council therefore charges the Management of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo to refrain from further perpetrating this anomaly and do the needful in the spirit of the peaceful and cordial relationship being enjoyed by all stakeholders in the institution.


Signed
Com. Ayodeji Bankole
Zonal Coordinator

Com. Sunday Akomolafe
Zonal Secretary

The Zone "F" (South-West Zone) of the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP) has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to endeavour to sign this bill into law, so that the age-long rivalry would be handled once and for all. The Council believes that signing this bill into law would be a parting gift from the President to the Polytechnic sub-sector.

The Polytechnic Lecturers want their outputs to be upgraded to the same level with the University graduates while they are not ready to upgrade themselves to the same level of the University lecturers

Most of polytechnic lecturers don't even have a Phd degree

Ajibade123:
Most of polytechnic lecturers don't even have a Phd degree

Laspotech was changed to lasutech with polytechnic lecturers, most converted polytechnics can run btech only till they are fully equipped to run post-graduate programs. Don't support the dichotomy. No lecturer can have less than msc because most polytechnic have a shortage of staff due to not recruiting.

As an engineer if I own an engineering company. Technologist(HND) and Engineer(B.eng) can never be equal. They can be equivalent. In fact their training and job roles are not even the same. Countries like Japan , Germany , u.s.a. understands this and don't argue with the status quo.

Good Day Senator Ayo Akinyelure,

I am happy to note from an online publication: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/593329-bsc-hnd-dichotomy-group-wants-buhari-to-assent-to-bill-ending-discrimination.html
that you sponsored a bill seeking to abolish HND/BSC dichotomy.

Sir, I must personally commend your effort and struggle on this course.

Senator Akinyelure, being the Chairman at Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions Committee from June 2019 to June 2023, gives me more confidence that you will leave no stone unturned to ensure that this dichotomy bill is signed into Law by our Able and God-fearing President, President Buhari.

I sincerely recognise the effort of NATIONAL ASSEMBLY (NASS) MEMBERS and all stakeholders till date on this achieveable mission.

Posterity will continue to smile on you if this mission is accomplished before May 29, 2023 (Handing Over Day).

My prayer is that your effort will not be wasted and God will personally compensate you and others for this.

*God bless The Federal Republic of Nigeria.*

From:
_*A lover of better Nigeria*_
*ADEGOKE OLUWAFEMI SAMSON*
*08030603521*