FEDERAL MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

POLYTECHNIC EDUCATION & ALLIED INSTITUTIONS DEPARTMENT [PE&AI]

 

PREAMBLE

The former Higher Education Department translated into Tertiary Education department of the Federal Ministry of Education in December 2006 as a result of the initiatives of the Reform.

However, to reposition the Polytechnic Education in Nigeria, Government approved the creation of Polytechnic Education and Allied Institutions from the existing Tertiary Education Department in 2021.

VISION
To advance Nigeria’s economic growth and global competitiveness by the provision of skilled and semi-skilled technical and professional middle and high level manpower through accessible, relevant, high quality education in our Polytechnics, Monotechnics and Innovation Enterprise and Innovations [IEIs] Institutions.

MISSION
To constantly attract, develop graduate competent, knowledgeable and talented individuals from our Polytechnics, Monotechnics and Innovation Enterprise and Innovations [IEIs] Institutions.

FUNCTIONS OF POLYTECHNIC AND ALLIED INSTITUTIONS DEPARTMENT

[i]       coordinate and supervise policy design, implementation and monitoring of Polytechnic Education in Nigeria;

[ii]      coordinate the establishment of new Federal Tertiary Education institution or taking–over existing State Polytechnics in collaboration with relevant agencies;

[iii]     management of parastatals such as National Board for Technical Education [NBTE], Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board [JAMB], Tertiary Education Trust Fund [TETFund] on Polytechnic matters;

[iv]     coordinate the performance of the Visitor’s role in Federal Polytechnics as provided by the law and as directed by the Honourable Minister of Education;

[v]      organise and coordinate constitution of Visitation Panel to Federal Polytechnics every five years in accordance with the law and processing of reports thereof;

[vi]     responsible for the monitoring of the level of implementation of the White Papers [Views of Government] of the Visitation Panel’s Reports;

[vii]    appoint and supervise the Ministry’s representatives on the Governing Councils of Federal Polytechnics and Board of NBTE;

[viii]   organise inauguration, retreats and capacity building programmes for members of the Governing Councils of Polytechnics in collaboration with NBTE;

[ix]     collate and process report from Governing Councils of all Federal Polytechnics;

[x]      responsible for the implementation of policies, extant laws and government circulars in Federal Polytechnics;

[xi]     responsible for handling of Federal Government Negotiations, Agreements and Memorandum of Understanding [MoU] with labour Unions in the Polytechnics;

[xii]    process the approval and licensing of private tertiary institutions including the Innovation Enterprise Institutions [IEIs] as well as certificates awarded in collaboration with the relevant Regulatory Agencies;

[xiii]   develop and review the Framework for Public Private Partnership in the establishment, management and administration of IEIs;

[xiv]   responsible for the monitoring of the level of compliance of the Innovation Enterprise Institutions [IEIs] with the Operational Guidelines for their establishment;

[xv]    organise advocacy and sensitisation programmes for the popularisation of IEIs and reversal of apathy towards Technical an Vocational Education at tertiary education level in Nigeria;

[xvi]   liaise with the National Council on Establishment on policy formulation for the articulation of technical education programmes and the inclusion of certificates awarded in the Scheme of Service for career progression;

[xvii]  maintain a data and information base of all Polytechnics, Monotechnics and IEIs in Nigeria; and

[xviii]  coordinate the secretariat of the Need Assessment Projects and other Special Interventions in Public Polytechnics.

ORGANISATION SET UP & DIVISIONS IN THE DEPARTMENT

MANAGEMENT OF REGULATORY AGENCIES [MRA]

[i]       management of parastatals such as National Board for Technical Education [NBTE], Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board [JAMB], Tertiary Education Trust Fund [TETFund] on Polytechnic matters;

[ii]      organise and coordinate constitution of Visitation Panel to Federal Polytechnics every five years in accordance with the law and processing of reports thereof;

[iii]     appoint and supervise the Ministry’s representatives on the Governing Councils of Federal Polytechnics and Board of NBTE;

[iv]     organise inauguration, retreats and capacity building programmes for members of the Governing Councils of Polytechnics in collaboration with NBTE;

[v]      liaise with the National Council on Establishment on policy formulation for the articulation of technical education programmes and the inclusion of certificates awarded in the Scheme of Service for career progression;

[vi      maintain a data and information base of all Polytechnics, Monotechnics and IEIs in Nigeria;

[vii]    coordinate the secretariat of the Need Assessment Projects and other Special Interventions in Public Polytechnics; and

[viii]   maintain a secretariat and information desk for the Department

DIVISIONS:

[A] FEDERAL POLYTECHNICS  DIVISION – [FEP]

[i]       coordinate and supervise policy design, implementation and monitoring of Polytechnic Education in Nigeria;

[ii]      coordinate the establishment of new Federal Tertiary Education institution or taking–over existing State Polytechnics in collaboration with relevant agencies;

[iii]     coordinate the performance of the Visitor’s role in Federal Polytechnics as provided by the law and as directed by the Honourable Minister of Education;

[iv]     responsible for the monitoring of the level of implementation of the White Papers [Views of Government] of the Visitation Panel’s Reports;

[v]      collate and process report from Governing Councils of all Federal Polytechnics;

[vi]     responsible for the implementation of policies, extant laws and government circulars in Federal Polytechnics;

[vii]    organise advocacy and sensitisation programmes for the popularisation of IEIs and reversal of apathy towards Technical an Vocational Education at tertiary education level in Nigeria; and

[viii]   maintain a data and information base of all Polytechnics in Nigeria.

[B] STATE AND PRIVATE POLYTECHNICS DIVISION –[SPP]

[i]       coordinate and supervise policy design, implementation and monitoring of Polytechnic Education[State & Private]  in Nigeria;

[ii]      collate and process reports and request from Governing Councils/Management of all State & Private Polytechnics;

[iii]     responsible for the implementation of policies, extant laws and government circulars in State & Private Polytechnics [where applicable];

[iv]     responsible for handling of issues of Negotiations, Agreements and Memorandum of Understanding [MoU] with labour Unions in State Governments owned & Private-owned Polytechnics;

[v]      process the approval and licensing of private tertiary institutions [Private Polytechnic] as well as certificates awarded in collaboration with the relevant Regulatory Agencies;

[vi]     responsible for the monitoring of the level of compliance of the Private owned Polytechnics with the conditions of their licensing approvals;

[vii]   organise advocacy and sensitisation programmes for the popularisation of Technical an Vocational Education at tertiary education [Polytechnic] level in Nigeria;

[viii]   liaise with the National Council on Establishment on policy formulation for the articulation of technical education programmes and the inclusion of certificates awarded in the Scheme of Service for career progression; and

[ix]     maintain a data and information base of all State & Private owned Polytechnics in Nigeria

[C] MONOTECHNICS DIVISION -[MIE]

[i]       coordinate and supervise policy design, implementation and monitoring of Polytechnic Education [Monotechnics & Innovation Enterprise Institutions IEIs] in Nigeria;

[ii]      appoint and supervise the Ministry’s representatives on the Governing Boards of Monotechnics & IEIs;

[iii]     organise inauguration, retreats and capacity building programmes for members of the Governing Boards of IEIs in collaboration with NBTE;

[iv]     collate and process report from Governing Boards of Monotechnics & IEIs;

[v]      responsible for the implementation of policies, extant laws and government circulars in Monotechnics & IEIs;

[vi]     responsible for handling of Federal Government Negotiations, Agreements and Memorandum of Understanding [MoU] with Proprietor of Monotechnics & IEIs;

[vii]    process the approval and licensing of Monotechnics & [IEIs] as well as certificates awarded in collaboration with the relevant Regulatory Agencies;

[viii]   develop and review the Framework for Public Private Partnership in the establishment, management and administration of Monotechnics & IEIs;

[ix]     responsible for the monitoring of the level of compliance of the Innovation Enterprise Institutions [IEIs] with the Operational Guidelines for their establishment;

[x]      organise advocacy and sensitisation programmes for the popularisation of IEIs and reversal of apathy towards Technical an Vocational Education at tertiary education level in Nigeria;

[xi]     liaise with the National Council on Establishment on policy formulation for the articulation of technical education programmes and the inclusion of certificates awarded in the Scheme of Service for career progression; and

[xii]    maintain a data and information base of all Monotechnics and IEIs in Nigeria.

[D] INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT AND PARTNERSHIPS  DIVISION – DD[ ISP]

[i]       coordinate and supervise policy design, implementation and monitoring of Polytechnic Education [Unions Matters – ASUP, SSANIP, NASU]   in Nigeria;

[ii]      organise inauguration, retreats and capacity building programmes for members of the Students & Staff Unions in Polytechnics in collaboration with NBTE;

[iii]     Responsible for the implementation of policies, extant laws and government circulars in all [Federal, State & Private] Polytechnics;

[iv]     Responsible for handling of Federal Government Negotiations, Agreements and Memorandum of Understanding [MoU] with labour Unions in the Polytechnics; and

[v]      Maintain a data and information base of Union Activities in all Polytechnics, Monotechnics and IEIs in Nigeria;

STRUCTURE OF POLYTECHNIC AND ALLIED INSTITUTIONS DEPARTMENT [Assistant Director and Above]

  • Director – 01
  • Deputy Directors – 04
  • Assistant Directors – 16
S/N Division Branches
1. Federal Polytechnics Federal Polytechnics – South East
Federal Polytechnics – North East
Federal Polytechnics – South West
Federal Polytechnics – North Central
Federal Polytechnics – South South
Federal Polytechnics – North West
2. State And Private Polytechnics State and Private -North East/South West
State and Private – North West/South South
State and Private – North Central/South East
3. Monotechnics Establishment and Licensing of Monotechnics &  IEIs
Advocacy and Monitoring of Monotechnics  & IEIs
Development of Entrepreneurship Education
4. Institutional Supports And Partnership Staff Support & Labour Relations
Students’ Support Services
Resource Materials & Documentation
5 Management of Regulatory Agencies

 

ANALYSIS OF POLYTECHNICS, MONOTECHNICS AND INNOVATION ENTERPRISE INSTITUTIONS IN NIGERIA

S/N Institution Type Ownership
Federal State Private Total
1. Polytechnics 36 51 69 156
2. Monotechnics: Specialized Institutions

Colleges of Agriculture

Colleges of Health  Technology

 24

19

32

 03

14

30

 12

00

11

 39

33

73
3. Polytechnics Offering NCE N/A N/A N/A 09 O9
4. Innovation Enterprise Institutions [IEIs] 7 5 160 172
TOTAL 118 103 252 09 482

PARASTATAL[S] UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT

  • National Board for Technical Education [NBTE] 

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT OF THE DEPARTMENT

  • Passage of Polytechnic Amendment Act [2019];
  • Constitutions and inauguration of Governing Councils of Federal Polytechnics;
  • Progress in Stabilization of the Academic calendar in Tertiary Institution;
  • Organised Visitation Panel to all Federal Polytechnics in Nigeria;
  • Constituted the FGN/ASUP/SSANIP/NASU 2010 Renegotiation Committee
  • Increased Infrastructural Development under the TETFund Intervention funds in Public Polytechnics;
  • Commencement of Implementation of IPPIS in Federal Tertiary Institutions;
  • Establishment of eight [8] new Federal Polytechnics in Katsina, Gombe, Oyo, Plateau, Cross River , Enugu , Benue and Borno states between 2019-2021;
  • Monitoring of appointment of Principal Officers and Key management staff in Federal Polytechnics;
  • Review of 2009 operational guidelines for Innovation Enterprise Institutions [Ongoing];
  • Advocacy & Sensitization programmes to increase student enrolment in IEIs in the Northern & Southern Zones;
  • Monitoring of IEIs in the Southern and Eastern Zones to assess their level of compliance with the Operational Guidelines for their establishment;
  • Presidential Approval for the Establishment of three [3] additional Federal Polytechnics in Abia, Delta and Kano States [April 2022];
  • Processing the appointments of Rectors of the Federal Polytechnics in Ekowe, Offa, Mubi, Kaduna is on-going;
  • Conclusion of appointment of Rectors in Federal Polytechnics located in Auchi, Bali, Birnin-Kebbi, Kazaure; and
  • Advertisement have been placed in two national dallies for the appointments of Rectors and other Principal officers in affected Federal Polytechnics – Unwana, Ilaro.

KEY PROGRAMMES AND INTERVENTIONS

  • Conduct Skills Gap Assessment in collaboration with other relevant departments and regulatory agencies;
  • Conduct Capacity building for FME Representatives and members of Governing Councils of Federal Polytechnics;
  • Development and Implementation of operational guideline for Innovation Enterprise Institutions for the award of Higher Innovation Diploma Certificate;
  • Renegotiation of the Renegotiated 2010 FG/Unions Agreement in Polytechnics;
  • Stakeholders workshop on Industrial Relations;
  • Organising regular meetings of the Rapid Response Team to attend to Union matters;
  • Assessment of Tertiary Institutions/Students’ Ratio in some selected Federal Tertiary Institutions in six Geo political Zones;
  • Constitutions of Inter- Ministerial Technical Committee for the Drafting of Bill on the Establishment of Innovation Enterprise Institutions; and
  • Process and production of the White Paper on the Visitation Panel Reports to Federal Polytechnics are on-going.

CURRENT ISSUES ON STAFF AND UNIONS MATTERS IN THE POLYTECHNIC SUB-SECTOR

Issues Update
1 Release of Government White Paper on the 2012 Visitation to Federal Polytechnics The reports of 2011-2015 & 2016-2020 Visitation Panel to Federal Polytechnics have been processed. The Draft White Paper Drafting Committee has just concluded its assignment. A date for official submission of the Committee’s report is yet to be fixed by the Ministry.
2 CONTISS 15: Arrears for Migration of Lower Cadres (11 & below), Minimum Wage, Non-payment of Minimum Wage Arrears Government approved N4Billion for the payment of the arrears of minimum wage of staff of Federal Polytechnics. The submission of the institutions is being processed by the Budget Office of the Federation by a Committee set up for the purpose.
3 Re-constitution of the FGN/ASUP/SANNIP/NASU Renegotiation of 2010 Agreements The Renegotiation Committee has been constituted and second round of meetings/engagement with Staff Union had been concluded.
4 Establishment of a National Polytechnics Commission A private bill is already in the NASS for legislative processes. Government is still studying the process.  However, Federal Ministry of Education as well as the regulatory agency -National Board of Technical Education [NBTE] have always monitored  effectively all the activities of the Polytechnic subsector
5 Release of 15Billion Naira  Revitalization Fund for the Implementation of the 2014 NEED Assessment Report Government approved the sum of N15Billion for the Polytechnic sub-sector for the implementation of the Revitalization funds for public Polytechnics. The process of release the fund by the Federal Ministry of Finance is on-going.
6 Delay in the release of the Polytechnic Scheme of Service OHSCF, FME and NBTE are consulting on the final draft of the Scheme of Service.
7 Poor funding of Polytechnic Sub sector Government has always made provision through annual budgetary allocation and TETFund Intervention.
8 Process of attendance of Representative of Visitor in the Convocation ceremony of Federal Polytechnics Convocation has taken place in Federal Polytechnics located in Offa & Ilaro. The Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa Convocation Ceremonies has been fixed for May, 2022

 

WAY FORWARD IN THE NEXT FOUR [4] YEARS

  • Establishment of Federal Polytechnics in the remaining States without Federal Polytechnics – Sokoto State & FCT;
  • Strengthening the Institutional Management of Education through Relevant Policy Formulation;
  • Create Access to Polytechnics Education by granting approval for the Establishment of more Polytechnics and IEIs Institutions;
  • Continue Review of Curricula for Polytechnic Education by the Regulatory Agencies to suit societal relevance;
  • Promote the development of National Skills Qualification Framework [NSQF] at all levels;
  • Ensure Improved Standards [Quality Assurance, Regular Accreditation and Re-accreditation];
  • Engagement of relevant stakeholder for Industrial Harmony Leading that will lead to a Stable Academic Calendar in our Polytechnics and
  • Improved Funding for TVET especially at Polytechnic sub- sector level for production of middle level manpower to meet national needs and global standards.
  • Implementation of Decisions of National Council on Education [NCE]

April, 2022