The Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnic (SSANIP) has charged the Federal Government and its security agencies to fully adopt the use of Information & Communication Technology (ICT) knowledge and skills to tackle the issue of insecurity in the country.
President of SSANIP Comrade P. A. Ogunsipe, while speaking at the end of the Union’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja expressed concern over the continued spate of insecurity in the country.
He tasked the security agencies to take full advantage of ICT to improve the intelligence-gathering process to curb Boko Haram insurgence, banditry and kidnappings.
Comrade Ogunsipe said the NEC-in-session, appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari for rejigging the security apparatus with a view to injecting new ideas and drive so as to improve the security situation in the country.
“However, the council expressed a huge concern over the continued unabated spate of insecurity being perpetuated and advanced by Boko Haram insurgents, Bandits, Kidnappers and other similar groups on innocent citizens,” he added
The SSANIP president said: “The council, therefore, charged the security agencies to fully take full advantage of Information & Communication Technology (ICT) knowledge and skills to improve the intelligence-gathering process with a view to curbing this unfortunate trend. In the considered opinion of the council, the application of ICT based techniques would assist in finding a lasting solution to the lingering security issues and the general governance as the protection of lives and properties remain the basic function of government.”
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On the polytechnic education, the SSANIP president called for the re-constitution of Governing Councils for the federal polytechnics, even as he frowned at the failure of the Federal Government to re-constitute the councils since 11 May, 2020 when the tenure of the last Council expired.
He noted that despite the concerted effort of the National Executive Council (NEC) of SSANIP in engaging with the Federal Ministry of Education and other relevant agencies of the government at different fora, the re-constitution of the Governing Councils fo the Federal Polytechnics is still being continuously delayed.
He said: “Similarly, the NEC-in-session frowned at some state governments who are yet to constitute and inaugurate Governing Councils for their respective polytechnics.
“It noted that non-availability of the Council to perform its statutory roles as enshrined in Section 7 of the Federal Polytechnics Act of 2019 (as amended) has continued to affect the general management and operation of the Polytechnics.
“It is on the basis of the above, that the NEC-in-session is urgently demanding for the immediate reconstitution and inauguration of Governing Councils for all Federal Polytechnics without further delay to allow for the smooth running of the Polytechnics.”
The union also expressed concerns and dissatisfaction over an attempt by the government to abandon renegotiation of the 2010 agreement with the union; humongous tax regime since the introduction of IPPIS; usurpation of non-teaching staff positions by teaching staff; non-implementation of NEEDS Assessment Report of 2014; engagement of consultancy services to run polytechnic; and non-release of union dues by state-owned polytechnics.
SSANIP passed a vote of no confidence on the Technical Committee of Stakeholders on the review of Scheme of Service, and condemned the lopsided composition of its membership.
Adopt Information and Communication Technology skills to tackle insecurity, SSANIP charges FG, security agencies
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