₦airaland Forum

With the general elections just few hours away, Film students of Mass Communication department in Lagos State Polytechnic took to the streets on Wednesday to campaign for a violence-free election.

Pedestrian and vehicular movements in the school were halted while the rally lasted as the students defied the hot weather clad in various professional, traditional and religious costumes dancing, singing and bearing placards with various inscriptions.

The rally which started from the Department of Mass Communication was taken around the campus community from Faculty to Faculty as the students engaged other students, traders, staff, shuttle drivers and passengers on the need for everyone to stand up united in the fight against election misconducts such as stealing of ballot-boxes, boycotting of elections, vote-buying and most importantly, election violence.

The course lecturer, Mr Steve Anu Adesemoye in an interview pointed out that the Costume day is a “yearly rite that is specially designed to add fun to teaching and learning of film production”.

He said; “We equally ensure that each costume day is anchored on a theme that is beneficial to the larger society. This is our little way of contributing to the betterment of our great nation. We strongly believe that, a well informed citizen becomes an active citizen. Active citizen builds a better society from an informed heart.”

He however added that, the bigger dream is to join hands with other tertiary institutions to serve as the harbinger of enduring policies and research hubs that will turn Nigeria around for better, like other developed countries.

Speaking in an interview, the leader of the organizing committee, Oyediran Oyeronke said “Costume day is originally seen as a day to display and promote various traditions and professions, but this year we decided to take it up a notch by using it as a medium to remind the people that their votes are their voices and their rights, and that they can exercise that right without violence and war. We also used it as an avenue to campaign against trading of votes”.

The rally which is an annual event in the department is tilted towards addressing the various ills in the society and this year’s edition was as a matter of fact, an unforgettable event.

Eke van Victor,
Head, Media Team

The agitation for the implementation of Consolidated Tertiary Institution Salary Structure (CONTISS 15) migration by the three Staff Unions is an issue that has thrown the Polytechnic Community into unrest since 2016.

The CONTISS 15 migration is the movement of staff from one salary grade level to the next level provided the staff meets the necessary conditions stipulated by the NBTE as listed below:
a. Such staff must have been employed before 1st August 2009
b. Such staff must possess the basic academic/professional or both qualifications applicable to his/her competence in addition to compliance to Institutional policy.
c. Such staff must have spent a minimum of two (2) years on the current position before the year of migration.

The lawlessness of the three (3) Staff Unions and threats to the lives of members of the Governing Council along with the Principal Officers of the Polytechnic got to a peak that during a session of the Governing Council's meeting; the Council members were rounded up and locked up at the Board Room with threats to set ablaze the entire building with the members inside. Charms were freely displayed and urine poured on the heads of elderly Council members sent to appeal to them. Power supply was cut off and all members’ cars vandalised.

Following these threats, the Office of the Special Adviser to His Excellency on Education in order to save lives and property, directed the Governing Council to implement the CONTISS 15 migration scheme in order to pacify the rampaging Union members that held the Govering Council members hostage for several hours. This implementation was on the terms presented by the three (3) Staff Unions which was later found to be defective.

The faulty implementation of the CONTISS 15 started immediately in October, 2016, notwithstanding, the three staff Unions continued to agitate for the payment of the 87 months arrears calculated to N1.7billion which was a financial burden to accommodate.

Management at this instance, sent two (2) members of staff to the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) in Kaduna to seek clarification on the policy implementation of CONTISS 15 migration, specifically, a member of the Unions and another, a Deputy Registrar in the Personnel Department on behalf of Management.

Ironically, the two gentlemen sent to NBTE returned with two (2) conflicting reports. The representative of the Unions came with a point to point movement implementation which was their position for October 2016 defective implementation, while the representative of Management insisted that the implementation was to be in line with the normal and usual promotional movement as it was done in 2004 when the Polytechnic implemented the Alignment of Nomenclature Policy of 1998 of Lagos State Government.
Based on the conflicting positions of the representatives, the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education wrote directly to NBTE, seeking clarification on the implementation of the said NBTE guidelines.

The NBTE, in response, sent the policy guidelines directly to the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education (SAE).
The Office of SAE sent the policy papers to the Governing Council and other relevant agencies of Government for consideration and recommendation.

On receiving the NBTE document from the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, the Governing Council constituted a committee with representatives from Governing Council, Management and the three (3) Staff Unions to consider the document as directed by the State Government. At the said meeting, the Unions insisted that the Polytechnic should implement the NBTE CONTISS 15 Migration Guidelines holistically even though Management and Governing Council were not favourably disposed to this Union’s position for they believed that it should only be for Officers on CONTISS 11 downwards and CONTISS 12 upwards (where necessary) according to NBTE. To give peace a chance again the Governing Council/ Management obliged.

This position was part of the collective resolutions of the Governing Council, Management and the Unions that was forwarded later to the State Government for consideration and necessary approval in 2017.

The Unions at several intervals embarked on strike actions that disturbed the peace of the Institution. This forced the State Government to institute a court action against the Unions' consistent strike actions.

The State House of Assembly intervened at the Unions' instance but they were impatient to wait for the resolution before embarking on their usual trade mark - strike action.
They also waved off, in acts of arrogance and disrespect to constituted authority, the intervention of the high power Executive Council led by the Deputy Governor in the company of the Secretary to the State Government and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education.

Having disregarded the interventions of the Deputy Governor’s team and that of the State House of Assembly, the Lagos State Executive Council proceeded to deliberate on the Governing Council’s presentation on the NBTE documents and released its decision which was communicated to the Polytechnic Management for implementation effective July 1, 2018 but just commenced by the Polytechnic due to administrative inconveniences and court directive.

The Management hereby refutes unequivocally that no staff of the Polytechnic was being demoted as claimed by the Unions.
The State Government in an act of magnanimity overlooked all previous payments made in error since October, 2016 to staff involved in the migration scheme due to the defective position of the Unions before the approved implementation date of the State Executive Council.

STEPS TAKEN BY THE POLYTECHNIC MANAGEMENT
1. Series of Meetings between the staff and management to explain the position of CONTISS 15 Migration.
2. Letters written to every member of staff involved in CONTISS 15 Migration by the Registrar.
3. Implementation of CONTISS 15 Migration in accordance with the NBTE guidelinse and as directed by the Lagos State Government.
4. Management directed all Staff who may have issues on the implementation to forward their complaints to the Registrar for necessary action.

WHAT IS LASPOTECH GOVERNING COUNCIL / MANAGEMENT DOING TO CUSHION THE EFFECTS OF THE REALIGNMENT?
1. Immediate promotion of staff that were due for the 2016/2017 appraisal year.
2. Immediate commencement of 2017/2018 appraisal.
3. Immediate implementation of annual increments from 2016 till date
4. payment of three months arrears of promotion to eligible staff.


Olanrewaju K, Kuye
Deputy Registrar, Information and Public Relations

In the last few days, there has been contagious celebratory mood at the three campuses of the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) in Isolo, Surulere and Ikorodu. At the campuses, the joyous mood underscores the institution’s 40th anniversary of the great institution, the climax of which has been scheduled for November 22. Of course, the management of the polytechnic led by Rector, Samuel Oluyinka Sogunro has every reason to celebrate the milestone age of the reputable institution of higher learning, giving its tempestuous experience at every turns and curves in the last four decades of its existence. It’s noteworthy that LASPOTECH has survived and emerged from myriads of challenges every step of the way to wax stronger and set the pace among its contemporaries in the country.

Established as Lagos State College of Science and Technology (LACOSTEC) via the promulgation of Lagos State Edict No. 1 of 1978 with retroactive effect from June 1, 1977, the institution commenced classes on January 3, 1978 at a temporary site (now the Isolo Campus) with five departments- Accountancy and Finance, Management and Business Studies, Insurance, Secretarial Studies and Basic Studies and later offered GCE ‘A’ Level courses in the Arts and Sciences. On August 1, 1978, the School of Agriculture in Ikorodu was merged with the polytechnic and it became the nucleus of its present–day permanent site.

The lectures started with 287 pioneering students, but the impressive academic architecture and curriculum put in place over the years, led to a huge enrolment figure, currently standing at 20,000 full-time and part-time students, spread among seven schools- Agriculture, Communication and Liberal Studies, Engineering, Environmental Studies, Technology, Pure and Applied Sciences, Management and Business Studies; presently, the polytechnic runs 67 programmes at National Diploma(ND ) and Higher National Diploma (HND) levels.

Perhaps, to give it a more robust outlook that could accentuate its status as an institution capable of offering management and social science courses, in 1988, the state government changed its name from Lagos State College of Science and Technology, (LACOSTEC) to Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH). In addition, the institution’s permanent site was proposed for 400 hectares of land acquired in 1977, by the state government at Ikosi, off the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. The permanent site was however moved to Ikorodu in 1985, following unabated encroachment on the Ikosi campus, while the relocation of the institution’s seat of administration from Isolo campus to Ikorodu finally took place in May 2000.

It is instructive to note that despite the existence of others before it came on board, LASPOTECH, which has over the years assumed the toga of the Polytechnic of Excellence, has produced over 220, 000 students to date. Many of the former students of the polytechnic are notable job creators in the country, and this validates one of the major objectives of polytechnics as job creators. A good number of others are pillars in various sectors of Nigeria’s economy. The list includes but not limited to the immediate past Managing Director of First Bank of Nigeria Plc (FBN), Mr Bisi Onasanya; ex- Managing Director of Cornerstone Insurance Plc and NICON Insurance Plc, Mrs Funmilayo Babington-Ashaye; current Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Mrs Yetunde Onanuga, movie icon, Kunle Afolayan, Mr Rotimi Edu, Chairman, Quicklink Insurance, the late thespian, Aishat Mohammed; music star, Adekunle Kosoko aka Adekunle Gold; winner of African Movie Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVC), Tunji Afolayan and award-winning investigative reporter and Head of Crime Desk at The Nation newspaper, Olukunle Akinrinade.

In sports, LASPOTECH contingent has continued to dominate Nigerian Polytechnic Games (NIPOGA) in recent times, with haul of laurels in football, chess, table tennis, lawn tennis, volley ball and athletics.

At the 19th edition of NIPOGA held between April 25 and May, 2017 at the Federal Polytechnic, Nassarawa State, the polytechnic’s team comprising 160 athletes emerged overall winner, out of 52 competing teams, with an aggregate of 48 medals- 16 Gold, 18 Silver and 14 Bronze medals. The medalists got monetary rewards for their feat and high level of discipline displayed at the competition.

In the same vein, best graduating students in 2014/2015 session, Omosalewa Babalola, who finished with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.0 and Ejire Adedolapo Abdulazeez, who graduated with a CGPA of 3.83 in 2015/2016 were given automatic employments by the management of the polytechnic.

In recognition of its stoic strides in academic development, the institution’s Department of Mass Communication was decorated as Center of reference in Journalism training by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). The no mean achievement has further led to the establishment of a radio station- 101.9 FM for the training of students and broadcast to the school community-the first of its kind among numerous polytechnics in the country. In no distant future, the polytechnic might morph into a degree awarding citadel of learning as plans are underway to turn it into University Polytechnic of Technology, the fruition of which, again would make it the numero uno in the country. It would nonetheless, still retain the polytechnic culture, redefine middle level manpower, need-oriented courses or programmes and rejig the curricula for best global training and practices.

Of late, the capacity development initiatives of the management has yielded fruits and transformed into increasing number of Ph.D holders on the academic staff roll call. Currently, the polytechnic boasts over 40 lecturers with doctorate degrees, spread across established departments in the institution, while another 36 lecturers are rounding off their PhD theses. The polytechnic has also hosted international conferences and seminars- the latest being International Conference on Infrastructural Development in Africa (ICIDA).

Despite being buffeted by limited resources, the institution has retained the core values of practical and innovative research-based training, which are the hallmark of polytechnic education, world over. In sync with the practical training mandate, LASPOTECH collaborated with notable strategic technology- driven corporate and public partners including Julius Berger (which built the Engineering theatre/auditorium), Huawei Technologies, Chams Plc, AFRIFONE, International College of Aeronautics and Aviation Studies, Republic of South-Korea, just to mention few.

It will be a disservice to those on whose toil and sweat the school was built and flourished to date, if their names are not mentioned in this piece. Indeed, many of the institution’s helmsmen, past and present bequeathed legacy projects, which have translated to the iconic performance of its students and the polytechnic in particular. Not a few of them suffered personal humiliation, deprivation, insult and harassment, yet, they were unbowed in their resolve to build, nurture and transform the then nascent LASPOTECH into an enviable institution that it is today in the country. The journey began with Dr. Hakeem Oseni, who served as the pioneer Principal from 1977 to 1980, followed by Mrs. A. Akinla , Principal (1981-1982); Dr. M.O Abdul , Principal ( 1982-1984); late Dr. (Mrs.) H.O. Anjonrin, Rector ( 1984- 1991); late Engr. Bola Oloro , Rector (1991-1999); Engr. Anthony Olawunmi Gasper, Rector (1999-2007); late Engr. Cosmas O. Odunaiya , Rector designate 2007; Ayodeji Babatunde Iginla, Rector (2007-2011); Dr. Abdulazeez Abioye Lawal, Rector (2011-2015) and Samuel Oluyinka Sogunro , Rector (2015 to date).The list would be incomplete without the name of one of the Fellows of the polytechnic, former military governor of Lagos State, Brigader-General Mobolaji Johnson, for his uncommon support for the institution over the years.

Without exaggerating, the polytechnic has benefitted immensely from the wealth of experience of seasoned academia and administrators, appointed as Chairmen of Governing Council. These men of impeccable character and honour include the pathfinder, Justice L. J. Dosunmu, (1977 – 1979); Alhaji H. A. Hakeem Habeeb, (1979 - 1981); Engr. O. .A Babayeju, (1983 - 1984); Prof. N. O. Adedipe, (1985 - 1987); Engr. F. O. Santos; (1988 - 1990); Prof. Kunle Ade-Wahab; (1990 - 1992); Engr. (Dr.) Femi Anibaba; (1992 - 1994); Engr. Ranti Adewale, (1994 - 1999); Prof. Olubode Leigh, (1999 - 2006); Prof. Olumide Ajose; (2006 - 2012) and Prof. Tajudeen G. O. Gbadamosi, (2015 to date)

Several employees of the institution have also contributed immensely to the growth of the polytechnic through their dedication to work, loyalty and diligence through the years. It is against this backdrop that the management, in appreciation of contributions by all employees, has deemed it gratifying to honour 752 of them with long service/meritorious awards, as part of the programmes scheduled for the ongoing anniversary.

Like a dutiful shepherd that looks after his sheep diligently, the state government has continued to look after LASPOTECH and ensured its sustenance and growth over the years. The supports including prompt payment of salaries, statutory allocations and accreditation of all programmes have made LASPOTECH the best state polytechnic in everything, so much so that other state-owned polytechnics in the country are exchanging notes with its management on how to run a 21st century polytechnic. It is for these various supports and interventions that the Lagos State Government deserves praises for living up to its responsibilities as Moderator of the institution..

Away from the relatively impressive strides of LASPOTECH, it has become compelling to overhaul decrepit infrastructure and facilities at the three campuses. Some of these facilities, particularly those inherited from the defunct School of Agriculture in Ikorodu campus should be given facelift and modern touch. It would be delusional to think that the management and state government could do this alone; No. A number of interventions have been done in the polytechnic in recent times by the alumni association and their efforts are commendable. However, as one of the strategic stakeholders of the polytechnic, it would not be out of place to ask the association to offer more interventions by carrying out more developmental projects in the institution.

Foreign and local companies can also help to engender development of the institution by partnering LASPOTECH to boost their operations, specific capacity building, equipment sourcing and fabrication as well as content generation for service providers, which in turn would boost commerce and the country’s economy. For instance, a number of equipment and devices including palm oil processing plant, break wear sensor on automobile, multi-purpose juice extractor, multi-purpose threshing, shelling and cleaning machine plate mill, urine powered generator, pneumatic can crusher, robotic hand, water level controller, electronic c-caution, scrolling light display and intelligent traffic light were fabricated and invented by academic trainers in the institution. Companies or organisations in need of these equipment or similar devices have the opportunity to approach the polytechnic for mass production of their specific equipment thereby saving a lot of hard currency that could have been used to import the equipment from western countries..

Realising that the polytechnic is open to a mutually beneficial developmental partnerships, the Federal Government recently took advantage of the institution’s large expanse of land (500 hectares) by building the National Emission Centre within the polytechnic, making it the first in the South West region of the country. Other private and public organisations can emulate this by siting their strategic infrastructure within the polytechnic, as this would help in no small measure to further grow the institution and the companies too.

At 40, LASPOTECH has achieved so much and this is the reason why the management deserves garlands. This landmark anniversary without doubt will make an encore as the journey towards the golden celebration begins from now on.

Kuye is the Deputy Registrar, Public Relations & Information of Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu

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sarrki:
Shut up

Ipobs are terrorist

Just like your father and forefathers right?

D girl with 4.0cgpa was just shivering yesterday. Her English wasn't even that sound. I could feel the tension in her. She deserves a state award and a honorable presentation before the Lagos State House of Assembly