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As part of efforts to revamp the polytechnic sector for greater efficiency and opportunity, the National Board for Technical Education has announced new Schemes of Service as approved by the Federal Government for Nigerian polytechnics effective from June 7, 2024.
The NBTE is mandated to regulate and oversee educational programmes offered by technical institutions at the secondary, polytechnic, and monotechnic levels through an accreditation process in Nigeria.
The Federal Government, through the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, had disclosed that the Schemes of Service for Polytechnics in Nigeria would soon be made available.
Yemi-Esan stated this in Abuja on May 2024 while explaining that “the Schemes of Service for polytechnics will be released soon.”
She had emphasised that, “Work had been concluded but for one area of contention.”
The Executive Secretary of the NBTE, Prof. Idris Bugaje at the formal presentation of the new Schemes of Service recently in Kaduna, said the new Schemes of Service is a unified approach to the recruitment and promotion of staff across federal, state and private polytechnics in Nigeria.
He added that henceforth, Higher National Diploma holders with good grades could now be employed as academic staff to lecture in polytechnics like their degree-holding counterparts.
Bugaje had further noted that the new Schemes of Service for Nigerian Polytechnics took effect from June 7, 2024, adding that from the operational day (June 7, 2024 ) of New Scheme of Service, previous versions of Schemes of Service, ceases to become legal tender.
“We are all united from now onwards to operate the new Schemes of Service in the Nigerian Polytechnic System,” he declared.
This was as he added that the Instructor Cadre, which represented segregation against HND holders in the past, had been abolished.
The NBTE boss had remarked, “I warmly welcome all esteemed stakeholders in the Nigerian Polytechnic System, gathered here for this important event, being the formal presentation of the New Schemes of Service for all Nigerian Polytechnics, operational from June 7, 2024.
“From this date, all previous versions of the Schemes of Service, and there were many of them, cease to become legal tender. We are all united from now onwards to operate the new Schemes of Service in the Nigerian Polytechnic System.
“This milestone has taken over a decade of struggle and efforts by our Staff Unions, Rectors of Polytechnics through their COHEADS/COFER bodies, the Federal Ministry of Education, and the NBTE.
“The new Schemes of Service offers that HND Holders with good grades are now to be appointed as Academic Staff (Graduate Assistants), like their degree counterparts, in a system that is theirs.
“The Instructor Cadre, which represents segregation against HND holders in the past, has been abolished. The Technician Cadre has been subsumed by Technologist Cadre, allowing ND holders to be appointed as Assistant Technologists.
“The Pharmacy Technology cadre has been maintained. For those with HND in Pharmacy Technology, but who may not be allowed to work in hospitals by the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, their space in the public service has been retained.”
He added, “the requirement of National Skill Qualifications Level 3 minimum for Senior Lecturers and above is a positive step aimed at institutionalising skills training in the polytechnics.’’
“On the overall, the new Schemes of Service presents a unified approach to the recruitment and promotion of staff across Nigerian Polytechnics, Federal, State, and even private. We shall use it as an instrument of accreditation in old and new institutions in terms of compliance.
