Alumni seeks polytechnics commission

 


By Dayo Johnson, Akure
 The  Forum of Nigeria Polytechnics Alumni Associations has called for the   establishment of the National Polytechnics Commission.  National Chairman of the forum, Chief Emmanuel Ojo, in a statement in Akure, also expressed concern over the discrimination between first degree graduates  and higher national diploma holders.  Ojo said the commission  would be saddled with the responsibility of supervising polytechnic education in the country, and appealed to the Federal Government to upgrade some polytechnics to degree-awarding.  He lamented that only two of the nation’s 80 polytechnics, Yaba College of Technology and Kaduna Polytechnic, have so far been upgraded.  He said “We call on the relevant authorities to establish National Polytechnics Commission to supervise polytechnics in Nigeria. Adequate funding of polytechnic education is also advocated as this is the bedrock of the country’s technological development .  The forum also appealed to the Federal Government to consider only candidates with polytechnic background for appointment as rectors of polytechnics, saying “the ‘golden goose ‘ should not die, and in the interest of the technological development of this country. “  It pleaded with the National Assembly to  expedite action on the Bill on disparity between first degree and higher national diploma which has passed the first reading at the Senate.