NAPS Southwest Urges NBTE to Revoke Licences of Substandard Polytechnics

The leadership of the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), Southwest Zone, has called on the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to immediately revoke the licences of substandard private polytechnics across Nigeria.

The union made this call on Friday during a press conference addressed by its newly elected Southwest Coordinator, Ogunsola Adewale, who raised concerns over the long-standing disparity between polytechnic and university education systems.

Adewale stressed that some institutions currently classified as polytechnics lack the basic infrastructure and academic capacity required to deliver quality technical education.

He said, “We, the NAPS Southwest Zone, are calling on the Executive Secretary of the NBTE to look into the irregularities and substandard conditions of some private polytechnics and withdraw the accreditation of those that fail to meet required standards. Some of these institutions are not even fit to be compared with secondary schools.

“As a responsible and forward-looking student body, we remain committed to constructive dialogue and partnership. In this regard, we advocate for continued government support through student-centered initiatives to ease the impact of economic challenges; strengthening of campus and community security to ensure a safe learning environment; enhancement of student welfare across polytechnic institutions; and sustained collaboration among stakeholders to promote accessible and quality education.

“On academic equity, the disparity between polytechnic lecturers and their university counterparts is no longer acceptable. This imbalance has persisted for too long and continues to undermine the polytechnic system.

“We call on the Federal Government to urgently implement equitable welfare structures, proper recognition, and policy reforms for polytechnic lecturers. Anything short of this sends the wrong signal about the nation’s commitment to technical and vocational education,” he said.