COHEADS urges adequate funding of vocational, technical education

The Council of Heads of Polytechnics and Colleges of Technology in Nigeria (COHEADS), has appealed to the Federal Government to adequately fund polytechnic education in the country in order to encourage industrial harmony in the sector and adequately develop vocational and technical education.

This is as the rector, Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, Mas’ud Elelu, emerged chairman of the group and would remain in office for the next four years.

The appeal was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the 133rd regular meeting of the group, which took place at the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH).

The administrators appealed that the Federal Government to extend its high-impact funding programme to all polytechnics as a way of fast-tracking the development of vocational and technical education in the country.

In the communiqué, which was signed by the new chairman, the group also appealed to the government to support the implementation of CONTISS 15 migration and other previously agreed academic allowances in the nation’s polytechnics, with adequate funding required for the implementation “to maintain industrial harmony on our campuses.”

While commending state governments that have successfully implemented CONTISS 15 in their polytechnics and colleges of technology with full cash backing, the group said, “We appeal to all staff unions in the nation’s polytechnics to exercise patience and allow peace to reign “on our campuses,” as efforts at resolving discordant issues are receiving attention, in the interest of polytechnic education in Nigeria.