The National Youth Council of Nigeria has been in the forefront agitating Youth inclusion in governance, this we believe can be achieved through youth participation in politics. In this regard, the National Youth Council of Nigeria ably led by Amb. Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo lauds the move by Kogi Youths to be part of the politics and governance of their state.

The news of some Youth in the state to have purchased the Governorship nomination form to support Governor Yahaya Bello’s second term aspiration in the forthcoming election is a welcome development, this is to say that Nigeria youth are awakened politically beyond mere political thugggery and machinery.

Its pertinent to state that at no point in time has our leadership dissociate self from the governor’s endorsement under any guise, the concerned parties and the general public should disregard any news stating the Council or her President dissociate self from the move, such publication must have emanated from the enemies of the council whose target is to pitch the Youth President against the government through cheap blackmails and misrepresentation.

Amb. Sukubo and the Council have no issue whatsoever with the government of governor Yahya Bello nor the purchase of nomination form for his aspiration by the youth of his state who deem his government fit of continuity. Kogi Youth is entitled to their opinion and political beliefs, and are free to do whatever with their hard earned money.

We encourage Nigeria Youth to get involved in the necessity of politics, so to enable them to secure a place in government. Youth involvement in politics is a requirement for Youth inclusion in Governance as such we laud the move of Kogi Youths in getting involved in the political activities of the state.


Signed
Comrade Olugbode Damola Hammed
National PRO NYCN

Recommendations on the upliftment of polytechnic to degree awarding institution featured in so many reports submitted to federal government of Nigeria by several committees setup in the time past where its majorly agreed that products of polytechnics have out grown the "middle level" adjective use in judging the mental capacities of their graduates. However the stage of implementation is where all the report finds difficult to scale through due to high politics of superiority among universities and polytechnics regulatory bodies couple with the insincerity of purpose displayed by government officials assigned to the job.

The 1999 report submitted by the federal government committee on the review of polytechnic education headed by Adamu Yabani popularly referred to as yabani report best proffer solutions to the problem of polytechnic education in Nigeria with a clearly mapped out chart that addresses the superiority of degree and diploma regulatory bodies. As contained in the report polytechnics should award National Diploma ND at first stage, Bachelor of Technology B.Tech at second stage and higher degrees as offers in the universities. Learning can be terminated at ND level or proceeds to B.Tech level on a stretch, as desired by students. ND graduates are to be referred to as middle level man power.

The recent conversion of Mashood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY) to Mashood Abiola University of Technology (MAUTECH) calls for the need to revisit Yabani report to safe guard the educational future of students currently in the system, students holding the institution's ND certificate and as well serve as a model to the upgrade of other polytechnics in the country. The transformation of the institutions is a litmus test that will go a long way in describing the future of polytechnic education in Nigeria, the decision to keep or wipe out the awards of National Diploma in the institutions is a win or a loss to Nigeria polytechnic education.

Yabani report recommends that National Diploma should be the prerequisite into B.Tech programs in polytechnic, ND programs will be two years while B.Tech is a three year program culminating into five years academic year for students who desires to posses the B.Tech degree. With the recommendations in the report the Award of HND in polytechnic will be phase out as its no more the practice of advanced nation. Notwithstanding B.Tech and HND will be accepted to be equal for further academic pursuits in the system.

The failure to adhere with recommendations of Yabani report in the transformation of MAPOLY to MAUTECH will be tantamount to the systematic killing of polytechnic education in Nigeria, the fate of polytechnic education hangs in the balance as so many states will follow suit if all went well with the MAPOLY conversion. The good intention of the Ogun State government will be best appreciated if carefully and diligently implemented, what is expected is an upgrade of the institution not a total conversion into a conventional university.

MAUTECH is a hope brought to realization only if the recommendations outlined for the creation of universities of technology are followed to the later beyond what we have now in the country, universities of technology are expected to be an institution for the advancement of polytechnic education perhaps they run similar mandate but in the reality of it they still discriminate against the polytechnics though its just a name and recognition difference they offer same quality of education to students.

Nigeria is a step closer to polytechnic education reform if we get it right from the upgrade of MAPOLY to an institution where the base as polytechnic is firmly rooted by the continuous award of National Diploma and the abolishment of dichotomy by awarding B.Tech in place of HND. With this, the dichotomy of HND and BSC will be a forgone issue yet we will still have the middle level man power graduates for relative assignment as described in the polytechnic establishment act.

Comrade Olugbode Damola Hammed
NAPS National PRO

OFFICE OF THE TREASURER, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIAN STUDENTS (NANS) Zone 'A'.

The Zone A Treasurer of the North West chapter of NANS, oppose the Vote of confidence to Speaker Dogara by its Coordinator. “We were not consulted at all. We never knew about it. The pronouncement came out of the personal experience of the Zone 'A' Coordinator, and if there should be any vote of confidence, a memo has to be created whereby an input will be collected from all the Executives. “We have not even discussed about the issue We are going against it because we were not consulted and as an Executive, I think I should be consulted likewise other Executives too before such matter would spring up,” The statement concluded that I, the Treasure of Zone A and other executives of Zone A of NANS “dissociate ourselves from this act and call on the Federal Government, agencies concerned and individuals to allow justice to prevail. And [we] equally urge the Speaker Dogara to honor the rule of law for sustainability of our country’s democracy.” Despite its respect for the Coordinators, the executives “would not in any way subject ourselves to any act by our coordinator that tends to undermine or coerce [the] rule of law.

Signed:
Comrade Umar Faruk Musa (Shakaka) NANS Zone 'A' Treasurer.

Making an unequivocal position on the deceleration of indefinite strike by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic Yaba College of Technology Chapter became imperative of our leadership, the action is presumed to be callous on the students who are preparing for the first semester examination.

Going by our wide consultation with all structures including the regional Secretariat of West Africa Polytechnic Student's Union WAPSU, the apex leadership structure in the Region, it is deem necessary we asert to ASUP that our role in the system is beyond learning but equally a key Stakeholder in the sustainance of peace and harmony in the sector which is a pivot for attaining an hitch free academic session for student, staff management and the polytechnic community at large.

Mutual respect of every groupw interest with due consideration is expected, in absence of these we hereby condemn the decision of the union to declare an indefinite strike action over one month unpaid allowance as it reflect no better understanding of the union's purposeful leadership rather a deliberate attempt to frustrate the student and the system entirely. Aside the fact that student examination Commence soonest the justification for this act remain unjust as we believe equally the union must have boycotted her National Leadership approval for this action as past and present National Leadership of ASUP as displayed in several occasion high respect for student constituency which always ensure tangible reasons for any strike action if it must be declared.

We expect the union to kick start pressure on Federal Government to see to immediate implementation of National Council On Establishments 39th Meeting Resolution which seek to halt permanently the dichotomy between HND and Bsc in civil service and possible the autonomy for polytechnics to award B.Tech rather than this show of shame.

Our investigation has reveal that this situation is not only limited no peculiar to only Yaba college of Technology but almost all Federal Polytechnic in Nigeria so why Yaba Tech ASUP in hurry. The hurry declaration of indefinite strike therefore brought forth question of sincerity and conscience of the chapter chairman to the system most especially the student community.

We wish to clearly state that one month unpaid allowances with 100%paid salary does not worth holding thousands of Nigerian Polytechnic student to ransom by declaration of indefinite strike by any Union except on selfish interest which lack moral, constitutional and legal backing nor student solidariry.

It is also imperative we remind the chapter to source alternative means for pressing her demands from either Federal Government or the Management Authority aside industrial action as we student will not continue to be a bait for any Union in academic setting to catch it's fish any longer. We have some thing meaningful to do with our lives, our graduation is essential and prerequisite for our career development.

The question of integrity we wish to throw out is as follows

If ASUP is embarking on strike for one month unpaid allowance, who should Nigeria Polytechnic students in the college turn to for payment of their extended house rent, utility bill, cost of feeding and most importantly time unnecessarily injured out of Union lack of understanding? We hereby implore, appeal and eulogise the ASUP Yaba Tech chapter to suspend the unjustifiable indefinite strike and resume work with immediate effect while we pledge our support and solidarity as usual for the union to mount pressure on Federal Government of Nigeria to resume the allowance payment in due course among other pressing matters that affect our sector.

We shall be available to smoothing the peace talk between the union and college management in no distance time while anticipating official resumption of work in Yaba College of Tech latest before Wednesday.

We call on management to embrace dialog with the union to fast track the peace and restoration of academic activities in the college.

Aluta continua Victoria Ascerta.


Signed.

Comr Olugbode Damola Hammed.
National PRO NAPS

Comr. Oyeniyi Abdulmajeed
Deputy Senate President NAPS

Comr. Adekanbi Sunday Speaker WAPSU

Cc : FME, DSS, NPF, MEDIA ASUP NATIONAL.

DECLARATION OF INDEFINITE STRIKE BY ASUP YABATECH CHAPTER, AN IRRATIONAL DECISION LACKING RESPECT FOR STUDENT CAREER PROGRESSION.


Making an unequivocal position on the deceleration of indefinite strike by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic Yaba College of Technology Chapter became imperative of our leadership, the action is presumed to be callous on the students who are preparing for the first semester examination.

Going by our wide consultation with all structures including the regional Secretariat of West Africa Polytechnic Student's Union WAPSU, the apex leadership structure in the Region, it is deem necessary we asert to ASUP that our role in the system is beyond learning but equally a key Stakeholder in the sustainance of peace and harmony in the sector which is a pivot for attaining an hitch free academic session for student, staff management and the polytechnic community at large.

Mutual respect of every groupw interest with due consideration is expected, in absence of these we hereby condemn the decision of the union to declare an indefinite strike action over one month unpaid allowance as it reflect no better understanding of the union's purposeful leadership rather a deliberate attempt to frustrate the student and the system entirely. Aside the fact that student examination Commence soonest the justification for this act remain unjust as we believe equally the union must have boycotted her National Leadership approval for this action as past and present National Leadership of ASUP as displayed in several occasion high respect for student constituency which always ensure tangible reasons for any strike action if it must be declared.

We expect the union to kick start pressure on Federal Government to see to immediate implementation of National Council On Establishments 39th Meeting Resolution which seek to halt permanently the dichotomy between HND and Bsc in civil service and possible the autonomy for polytechnics to award B.Tech rather than this show of shame.

Our investigation has reveal that this situation is not only limited no peculiar to only Yaba college of Technology but almost all Federal Polytechnic in Nigeria so why Yaba Tech ASUP in hurry. The hurry declaration of indefinite strike therefore brought forth question of sincerity and conscience of the chapter chairman to the system most especially the student community.

We wish to clearly state that one month unpaid allowances with 100%paid salary does not worth holding thousands of Nigerian Polytechnic student to ransom by declaration of indefinite strike by any Union except on selfish interest which lack moral, constitutional and legal backing nor student solidariry.

It is also imperative we remind the chapter to source alternative means for pressing her demands from either Federal Government or the Management Authority aside industrial action as we student will not continue to be a bait for any Union in academic setting to catch it's fish any longer. We have some thing meaningful to do with our lives, our graduation is essential and prerequisite for our career development.

The question of integrity we wish to throw out is as follows

If ASUP is embarking on strike for one month unpaid allowance, who should Nigeria Polytechnic students in the college turn to for payment of their extended house rent, utility bill, cost of feeding and most importantly time unnecessarily injured out of Union lack of understanding? We hereby implore, appeal and eulogise the ASUP Yaba Tech chapter to suspend the unjustifiable indefinite strike and resume work with immediate effect while we pledge our support and solidarity as usual for the union to mount pressure on Federal Government of Nigeria to resume the allowance payment in due course among other pressing matters that affect our sector.

We shall be available to smoothing the peace talk between the union and college management in no distance time while anticipating official resumption of work in Yaba College of Tech latest before Wednesday.

We call on management to embrace dialog with the union to fast track the peace and restoration of academic activities in the college.

Aluta continua Victoria Ascerta.


Signed.

Comr Olugbode Damola Hammed.
National PRO NAPS

Comr. Oyeniyi Abdulmajeed
Deputy Senate President NAPS

Comr. Adekanbi Sunday Speaker WAPSU

Cc : FME, DSS, NPF, MEDIA ASUP NATIONAL.