Stakeholders call for release of 15 billion naira revitalisation fund for polytechnics authorized by Buhari

Stake holders drawn form polytechnics have requested for the immediate release of the 15 Billion Naira authorized by Mr. President as part of the Revitalization Fund for Public Polytechnics in Nigeria.

The retreat was organized by the National Board for Technical Education in collaboration with the Committee of Federal Polytechnic Rectors for Chairmen and Principal Officers of Federal Polytechnics and Chairmen and Rectors of one State Polytechnic in each of the six geopolitical zones.

The theme of the retreat is Improving Polytechnic Administration: The Role of Governing Councils and Management. Papers were presented on issues relevant to the Polytechnic sector by Resource Persons drawn from the Federal Ministry of Education, National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP), and the academia.

The aim of the retreat was to strengthen the over sight role of Governing Councils and foster harmonious working relationship with management and critical stakeholders in the Polytechnic sector.

At the end of the presentations and exhaustive deliberations, participants:

1. noted the inadequacy in the funding of polytechnic education in Nigeria. It therefore, suggested allocation of at least 20% of the National budget for the funding of education and 50% of which should go to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to fund research and development in the Polytechnics and the need to encourage staff of the Polytechnics to undertake research and training in the industries in order to fill the gaps between the academics and the industry;

2. noted over dependence of the Polytechnics on TETFund intervention for the running of Institutions. The participants suggested that Councils and Managements should reach out to development agencies and Non-Governmental Organizations and also look inwards for improved Internally Generated Revenue (IGR);

3. appealed for the immediate release of the 15 Billion Naira approved by Mr. President as part of the Revitalization Fund for Public Polytechnics in Nigeria;

4. noted with concern, the conversion of Polytechnics to Universities thereby exacerbating the existing skill gaps in the nation. It therefore, called on the Federal and State Governments to halt the trend; 

5. highlighted major challenges facing the Polytechnics including dearth of manufacturing industries to absorb graduates of the Polytechnics, lack of data base for manpower planning, poor perception, apathy against Polytechnic education and called upon  all stake holders to make efforts to address these challenges;

6. noted that noncompliance with the Federal Polytechnics (Amendment) Act 2019 constitutes a major threat to the smooth running of the polytechnics. The participants therefore called on councils and managements to ensure that their actions and decisions conform with the provisions of the Act and other extant laws and circulars. Participants also noted that the current Act have lacunas, which need to be attended to urgently, especially with each polytechnic having its own establishment Act;

7. highlighted the roles of the Council which include organization, coordination and direction of the affairs of the Polytechnics and enjoined the Councils to know that the Managements also have responsibilities and must therefore, collectively respect the clear distinctions between the strategic operational roles in the running of the institutions with well-articulated policies for good governance;

8. identified some pitfalls in the financial operations of the tertiary institutions. The participants therefore, called for reforms that would ensure anti-corruption drives and Institute disciplinary sanctions against financial related offences. The participants also called on Councils and Managements to ensure transparency, accountability and effective monitoring for proper checks and balances in managing the meager financial resources under their watch; 

9. underscored good understanding between Councils and Managements in the Polytechnics, highlighting issues that negate harmonious working relationship among them and urged all stakeholders to avoid rancour that would hamper the smooth running of the system;

10. x-rayed challenges facing the administration and the need for efficient and effective management and advocated that the Councils and Managements should face the challenges with vigour; and

11. Noted with concern the effect of embargo on recruitment of quality staff to man TVET institutions and called on the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to consider the issuance of waiver for replacement of staff to salvage the system from imminent collapse; and

12. Recommended very strongly that the Federal Government should as a matter of urgency establish a Ministry of Technical and Vocational Education to drive skills training for the development of entrepreneurship and TVET sector for sustainable national development.

Dr Baba David Danjuma

Chairman

Lawal Y. HafiS

Secretary