The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has warned that Nigeria’s growing shortage of technical skills will continue to hurt jobs, productivity and industrial growth unless polytechnics are urgently revived and properly funded.
The union raised the alarm at the end of its 18th National Conference, saying years of neglect of technical and vocational education have left many young Nigerians without practical skills needed to compete in today’s economy. According to ASUP, this failure has worsened unemployment and weakened the country’s workforce.
ASUP also expressed concern over rising insecurity, noting that attacks and instability now threaten learning, research and the safety of staff and students across institutions. It urged the Federal Government to improve intelligence coordination and provide economic relief to cushion the impact of inflation and the high cost of living on Nigerians.
On funding, the union accused the government of lacking sincerity in revitalising polytechnics, demanding the immediate and transparent release of funds approved under the second phase of the NEEDS Assessment Intervention. It warned that continued neglect of staff welfare could trigger deeper industrial unrest.
ASUP renewed its call for the abolition of the HND/BSc dichotomy, urging President Bola Tinubu to assent to the bill when passed, describing it as key to fairness, national unity and a modern workforce. The union also opposed outsourcing NBTE’s quality assurance role and warned against the unchecked conversion of polytechnics to universities, insisting that polytechnics remain the backbone of Nigeria’s technical development.
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