From the Federal Government, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, has announced that the long-awaited Schemes of Service for Polytechnics in Nigeria are nearing release.
This update was disclosed during a meeting with Prof. Idris Bugaje, the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), held in Abuja.
Yemi-Esan expressed her satisfaction with the collaboration between the Federal Government and NBTE, assuring stakeholders that the Scheme of Service for polytechnics is in its final stages, with only one area of contention left to be resolved.
Yemi-Esan revealed plans for the accreditation of courses offered by Federal Training Centres (FTCs) by NBTE. She disclosed that funds have already been allocated for the accreditation of courses in two out of six FTCs, with efforts underway to secure full accreditation for all centers.
Prof. Idris Bugaje expressed gratitude to the Head of Civil Service for her instrumental role in advancing skills development in Nigeria. He particularly commended the approval of levels one to six of the National Skills Qualification (NSQ), a move he believes has positioned Nigeria on the global skills landscape.
Bugaje also appealed for the timely release of the Polytechnics Scheme of Service, stressing its crucial importance in enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the polytechnic system. He stated that the prolonged delay in releasing the scheme has been detrimental to the system and has impeded industrial harmony within polytechnics across the country.