The National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) has called on President Bola Tinubu to order immediate investigation into alleged exploitation of students engaging in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) by Polytechnic Institutions.

This charge was given by the National President of NAPS, Jimoh Ibrahim, in a statement he issued as the national leader of the student body.

Ibrahim claimed that some Polytechnic institutions have commercialised the initiative by demanding payments from students before allowing them to benefit from TVET programmes. “We state categorically that this is unacceptable,” he stated.

“To every institution exploiting students under the guise of implementing TVET, this administration serves notice that such practices must stop immediately. Education interventions designed to empower students must never become avenues for exploitation.

We call on the Federal Government and relevant regulatory agencies to investigate these allegations and ensure that every institution found culpable is sanctioned accordingly.

Should these exploitative practices continue, NAPS will not hesitate to mobilise every constitutional and democratic instrument available to us; including sustained advocacy, formal petitions, strategic engagement, peaceful mass action where necessary, and legal means, to protect the interests and future of Polytechnic students,” he said.

He said the continued discrimination against Higher National Diploma (HND) holders through the HND–B.Sc. dichotomy remains one of the greatest injustices in our educational system. “It has denied competent Polytechnic graduates equal opportunities in employment, career progression, and national service.
This injustice has lasted far too long and must come to an end,” Ibrahim demanded.

NAPS accused the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, of “showing that he is anti-technical education,” adding that the Minister has demonstrated that he is against Polytechnic education in Nigeria.

“Nigerian Students will not sit and watch the Minister destroy the Polytechnic sector; it is on that note that we are calling for the resignation of Dr. Tunji Alausa as Minister, we are giving him 14 days ultimatum from today to resign. Any Minister who does not prioritise the technological advancement of the nation is not worthy of the appointment,” he noted.