According to him, records from the board’s Quality Assurance Department indicates a worrisome level of continued existence of expired programmes in mostly states-owned polytechnics.
“While there is need to complement government subvention, education remains a social investment that is quality conscious.
“The board also observe with dismay, the trending practice of recruitment and promotion of unqualified staff especially in the academics in clear violation of prescribed rules,” he said.
He reiterated that appointments and promotion should not be at the whims and caprices of those in authority, but based on laid down rules.
“Anything contrary will only water down standards and make our products half-baked.”
The NBTE boss also identified nonpayment of staff salaries and allowances running into several months and victimisation of union leaders by management as a recurring problems.
Dutse, who acknowledged the problems identified by Kazaure, added that the institutions also have poor infrastructure and low staff strength; pointing out that the polytechnics have been withholding union dues and were interfering in union affairs.
He accused state governments of establishing most of the institutions purely on political grounds and now unable to meet minimum standard due to poor funding.
“In fact, most of the infrastructures in state polytechnics are TETFund projects.
“Today’s engagement present a unique opportunity to address these issues which already threatened industrial harmony,” he said.
On his part, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, Chairman, Committee of Chairmen, Governing Councils of Federal Polytechnics, said that stakeholders must work together to address the problems.