SSANIP Rejects NBTE’s Reviewed Polytechnic Schemes Of Service

The Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP) has rejected the reviewed Schemes of Service for Nigerian Polytechnics prepared by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), describing them as discriminatory and unbalanced.

SSANIP made its position known in a minority report submitted to the Minister of Education following a stakeholders’ meeting held in Abuja on Jan. 19.

The report was signed by the association’s National President, Philip Ogunsipe.

Ogunsipe said the association’s rejection was based on what it described as wide disparities introduced by the reviewed schemes, particularly between teaching and non-teaching staff at the point of entry into service.

He noted that the schemes would adversely affect the career progression of non-teaching staff by preventing those with first degrees from advancing to CONTEDISS 15, which is equivalent to Grade Level 17 in the public service.

He noted that documentary evidence, including confirmations from the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission on the existence of CONTEDISS 15, as well as documents from the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, were ignored during deliberations despite their relevance.

The SSANIP president condemned comments credited to the Chairman of the Committee of Heads of Polytechnics and Colleges of Technology of Nigeria (COHEADS), suggesting that rectors and some non-teaching staff should not retire on the same grade level.

He described the remarks as demeaning, elitist and contrary to public service rules.

Ogunsipe said the association, through the minority report, had passed a vote of no confidence in NBTE’s ability to produce a fair and acceptable scheme of service for polytechnics, citing what it termed persistent bias and disregard for extant public service regulations.

He appealed to the Minister of Education to objectively review the association’s concerns in the interest of equity, industrial harmony and adherence to established norms.

He expressed confidence in the minister’s leadership and opined that polytechnic staff should not be denied benefits obtainable in universities and colleges of education.