Federal government launches three new polytechnics despite opposition from education unions

NIGERIA'S federal government has launched three new polytechnics as part of its ongoing plan to boost the skills base in the country despite widespread opposition to the proliferation of institutions by the education unions.

Ben Goong, a spokesman for the Federal Ministry of Education, said President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the three polytechnics to be located at Kabo in Kano State, Umunnoechi in Abia State and Orogun in Delta State. This announcement comes amidst industrial action by lecturers and other university’ workers who have been on strike for the last two months.

While the Academic Staff Union of Universities (Asuu), have been on strike for two months, other university staff have downed tools for three months. Stakeholders in Nigeria's education sector and particularly the workers’ unions, have continued to kick against what they described as proliferation of tertiary institutions in the country.

They said the existing academic institutions are poorly funded and faulted what they termed the politicisation of education in the country. A significant part of the grievances of the workers’ unions of universities, polytechnics and colleges of education is the frequency with which the Nigerian government at both the federal and state levels establish new academic institutions.

In addition, the unions said the new institutions are established without adequate planning and evidence of sustainability strategies. However, the federal government said the establishment of the new institutions is in line with the determination of the Buhari-led administration to make tertiary education more accessible to young Nigerians.

These new institutions are to commence academic activities in October 2022 and they now brings to 36 the number of federal polytechnics in the country.  All states of the Nigerian federation now have one federal polytechnic each with this development.