DSS AVERTS POLYTECHNIC STUDENTS PLANNED MASS PROTEST AGAINST FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTER EBUTE METTA: OUR STAND

Protocol's

The Nigeria polytechnic student body under the aegis National Association of Polytechnic Student's (NAPS) with the solidarity of West Africa Polytechnic Student's Union (WAPSU) has resolved to engage the management of Federal Medical Center Ebute Meta Lagos confrontational, due to their refusal to yield to our call for the CMD voluntary resignation from office for negligence of duty,  insensitivity and inhuman policies run by the hospital management that resulted to the sudden death of our beloved colleague Miss Dezan M Charity an HND II student of Office Technology Management department of Yaba College of Technology on 12th February 2016.

The hospital refused commencing immediate treatment on late charity as when rushed to the emergency unit of the hospital, insisted on the payment of N47, 000 before treatment of any kind despite being rushed in from the college with the school crested ambulance this which led to the untimely lost of her soul to the cold hand of death. Their refusal to issue the deceased a certificate of death and facilitate compensation to the family further provoked our diplomacy.

It was our well thought decision and arrangement to take over the administrative block of the medical center while the entire management team will be locked out of their respective offices today 24th March 2016 before the intervention and subsequent aversion of the action by the Department  of State Security (DSS) Lagos Sate command. The mass action was at peak of commencement when the DSS intercepted the planned action.

We express confidence in the assurance given to our team by the Director State Services as he directed the re-opening of investigation into the cases and immediate summoning of all parties involved for questioning including Medical Director Yaba Tech,  Doctor on duty on the incident day at FMC and students who accompanied late charity to the center.  He further assured us of justice and facilitation of a round table Dialogue of our team and the hospital authority while the command moderates.

We extend our sincere appreciation to all students, caders and concerned citizens who identifies with us in this struggle and our profound gratitude to the Department of State Service,  headquarters and Lagos command for responsive and proactive measures. We shall not deviate from our core values,  strengthening policy that will inform positive attitudinal changes of public servants toward duties and consideration for student, we shall continue until the best is achieved,

We equally kicked against students signing an open cheque for Yaba Tech authority as required by the management as condition for resumption. "An undertaking of good conduct and acceptance of payment for damages as may be prescribed by management"  this is considered as an open cheque which may not be negotiable after signing,  we therefore demand open declaration of the amount to be paid as damages before signing of such document. We implore our student to remain calm while we further agitates in constructive and diplomatic manner.
Accept our maximum regards.
Aluta Continua. Victoria Ascerta.

Signed

Comr. Olugbode H.Damola
National PRO
National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS)

Amb. S A Lukman.
President
West Africa Polytechnic Student's Union (WAPSU)

BEING A POSITION PAPER PRESENTED TO THE COUNCIL OF HEADS OF POLYTECHNICS IN NIGERIA AND COLLEGES OF TECHNOLOGY (COHEADS) BY NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF POLYTECHNIC STUDENT (NAPS) on Wednesday 13th 2016.

Protocol's !!

It is consider a privileged responsibility to address this distinguished council on behalf of the entire Polytechnic students. We have chosen to seize this expensive opportunity to bring into focus certain issues which we consider pertinent to the attainment and sustenance of peace continuous progress and development which we believe is the major yearnings and aspirations of both the students and institution authorities.

With respect to the gathering of council of rector's we deem it fit to make this positions to earn your support for development of our sector.

PARITY AT ENTRY LEVEL INTO TETIARY INSTITUTIONS

The dichotomy between HND and BSC certificates can best be address at entry level through critical examination of entry requirement into the duo institutions. Factually one of the aims of merging University matriculation Examination UME and Monotechnics, Polytechnics and colleges of Education Examination by joint Admission matriculation board JAMB was to aid an end to discrepancy between the two category institutions certificates. The prerequisite for universities are more strict compare to that of polytechnics, where JAMB cut off marks is maintained at standard of 200, 220 or even more for special courses by the heads of this institutions (VCs) while the compromission of the cut off for Polytechnic by heads (Rectors) to the drop of cut off marks to 180, 150 in quest of population and others is not good enough nor helpful for the ongoing agitation for an end to dichotomy.                                 We therefore appeal for strict adherence for parity at entry level for both University and Polytechnic by the Council.

INTERNAL MECHANISM TO ADDRESS SEXUAL HARASSMENTS IN THE POLYTECHNIC SECTOR.

The widespread of sexual harassment in the Nation's campuses of higher institutions has assumed a disgraceful and disheartening dimension. Although it is applicable to tertiary institutions but the rate in Polytechnic is alarming has it was reported on national Daily (punch), a week ago citing the case of Auchi Polytechnic. The intensive spread of the menace throughout the whole country is an indictment on our national moral and discipline decadence. The mysterious aspect of the awesome drama is the application to both sex gender.

Sexwork unfortunate has become a key perquisite to pass courses on most campuses, ladies are to go down to bed with lecturers to have a course pass while guys on the other hand are to arrange Arissto's to do the sexwork or risk coming following year to observe same process. Fear of graduating has sex machines grip females students as education gradually turns sex sentence.

We therefore call for The implementation of internal  mechanism that will protect whistle blowers such as distress numbers, complain boxes, counsel and guidance for students to open up harassment should be in place, preferable anonymously due to fear of victimization and intimidation from reported culprits. Adoption of conference markings or CBT systems to reduce lecturers influence on students success in examination will go a long way capture the menace.

INDEPENDENT DEMOCRATIC STUDENTS UNION GOVERNMENT AND FINANCIAL AUTONOMY FOR NATIONAL Body (NAPS)

The authorities of our institutions still deprive us of democratic students Union government,  which makes meaningful consultation and effective participation in government  policy making difficult for us. Indiscriminate rustication, suspension and expulsion of students leaders still prevail while intermittent closure of our institutions continues as a characteristic feature. Holding to ground of practical experience the student unionism offers students which can be traced to many successful public office holders whom are graduate of campus student unionism in Nigeria Polytechnics and their successful engagement in public service necessitate sustainance of independent student Union government in all Polytechnics. Breeding of students who are academic genius, ideological robots and  political nonentity may not present the sector well.

For effective pursuit of national consciousness, citizenship education and ideological orientation with a view to enhance national unity, relative peace and orderliness on campuses,                 we therefore call for resuscitation of all banned student union government across board by  School authorities, however needs to to do more to sustained democratic students unionism without interference into it's operations and giving it necessary supports to build future leaders with leadership skills and knowledge of governance which is not obtainable in class as it is not contained in the curriculum.

Students Union Government of all polytechnics are bound by the constitution of NAPS to pay capitation due (Annual Due) as member unions, like every other association and Union The failure of most unions to fulfill this obligation as incapacitates the National body NAPS financially subjecting her to romance of philanthropist for administration running therefore frustrating  the sole aim of establishing an alternate voice for polytechnic students.           We thereby request heads of institution consent to influence the direct remittance of this said due N200,000 directly into national body account since all institutions collects SUG due together with school fees and operates TSA

POLYTECHNIC STAKEHOLDERS CONFERENCE

Lunching a rescue mission into our educational sector from total collapse becomes imperative, as standards depart our core discipline, deviation from practical orientation and technical knowledge. Appraising the polytechnic sector through a stakeholder meeting to collectively identify challenges facing the sector, harmonize positions and push for implementation together at necessary quarters now becomes mandatory.

The Incessant Industrial actions, students unrest, cult clashes, etc. paralyze academic activities and calendars inform the need for stakeholder conference, critical examinations to ensure internal mechanism arrest is develop to arrest frivolous intermittent closure of our campuses.

Numerous favorable Federal Government panel reports for the upgrade of polytechnic to degree awarding status and removal of HND/BSc dichotomy without implementation calls for review, harmonization, joint implementation efforts. We therefore propose all encompassing stakeholders conference to includes NAPS, WAPSU, ASUP, NASU, SSANIP,  COHEADS, COFEPR,  NBTE, FME and office of National Security Adviser to Presidency To harness uniform provisions of adequate facilities, massive media campaigns, rallies, Lecture boycotts, symposium, positions presentations and individual efforts all towards actualising degree awarding status for Polytechnics.                 

ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMERCIAL TECHNICAL WORKSHOPS IN ALL POLYTECHNICS                       

The Polytechnic is at verge of losing her core value and identity as master producer of technologist in the country,  the introduction of entrepreneurship education is not enough to justify the need for professional practical practice for all engineering and sciences department.  It not befitting that Polytechnic authorities   staffs, students and the community members still patronize vulcanizer,  mechanics, electrical, electronic, furniture, tailoring and laboratory centers / workshops for service outside the system despite our foundation on technology.   We therefore recommend establishment of commercial technical workshops and laboratory centers by all Polytechnics which will be the center for industrial attachment for all students to acquired professional practical certificate within 4months as well serve as IGR mechanism for the system where competent technician with sophisticated equipment will be mount.  It is expected to offer all Polytechnics communities and general public a service just as our health facilities does in many Polytechnics today.     We are optimistic that this position will be given adequate consideration for a better and robust technological advancement of dear nation and improve for productivity in Polytechnic sector.    

Comr.  Olugbode Damola
NATIONAL PRO NAPS/ Secretary NAPS TECHNICAL EDUCATION CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE    

Amb.  Salahudeen A Lukman
WAPSU REGIONAL PRESIDENT / Chairman NAPS TECHNICAL EDUCATION CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE.    

Comr.  Owolabi Olaogun Yusuf
NAPS Vice President South West / Member NAPS TECHNICAL EDUCATION CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE

EXCLUSION OF HND HOLDERS IN THE ONGOING IMMIGRATION RECRUITMENT EXERSISE: NAPS POSITION

The reoccurring hypocritical discrimination   against HND certificates in the immigration recruitment exercise is an unjustifiable goof that indicates the unwillingness of the current government to end the dichotomy between HND and BSC certificate. The exclusion of the certificate is gradually becoming a norm that will permanently shelve HND holders from gaining entry in to the immigration service, this we have noticed and shall meets repulsion from the polytechnic students.

Precisely a year ago, the leadership of NAPS was on the demand for the inclusion of HND certificates into the immigration exercise under the then HON minister of interior in the transformation regime, it became a great surprise that the current administration of this change mantra can toll the same discriminatory path to repeat same unjust act. The unaccountable expensive omission of HND certificates in the guise of recruiting junior cadres is frivolous with provision for BSC holder, this we view as a reserve excuse to ease the execution plan.
Having proven the need to review the required recruiting qualification with many documents submitted to necessary quarters with no honour or consideration, it is realized that the immigration recruiting board is arrogating to its self the power of creating unnecessary dichotomy between the HND graduate and BSC graduate in job placement which does not exist in other forces. Is the ministry of interior and the immigration saying there are no placement for HND holders or are they used as an instrument to kill the polytechnic education in Nigeria? One wonders if it is a crime to acquire education through polytechnic institutions and only to come out to be humiliated at the end of all.

The final justifiable justice against unjustifiable injustice is a justifiable injustice, at this stage confrontation is in conformation with the natural law.

We call on the federal government, the ministry of interior and by extension the presidential committee on immigration recruitment exercise to urgently intervene and ensure justice and fairness comes to play in order to avert another national immigration stampede as the armless battalion Nigeria polytechnic student shall not hesitate mobilizing to stamped the recruiting exercise if the recruiting committee fails to capture HND certificates. As freedom is not freely given to the oppressed by the oppressor but has to be demanded.

Signed
Comrade Olugbode Damola (Aluta - Dmode)
NAPS National PRO