The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Kaduna Polytechnic(Kadpoly) Chapter, has raised an alarm over alleged clandestine moves by the Federal Government to rescind its decision of converting the Kaduna Polytechnic into a university.

ASUP insisted that doing so would be counterproductive to the development of technical education in Nigeria.

The Chairman of ASUP, Kadpoly chapter, Mustapha Yahaya Bida, told a press conference in Kaduna yesterday that the alleged change of mind has dampened the morale of the polytechnic community. He insisted that the advantages of the conversion by far outweigh the seeming disadvantages.

The lecturers said that with about 200 Ph.D holders currently under the employ of Kadpoly, the school has enough human resources to take off as some already established universities in the country cannot boast of such human resources.

They distanced themselves from remarks ascribed to the National President of ASUP calling on Federal Government to cancel it intention to convert Kadpoly into a university, saying it brought to question whose mandate and interest he represents.

Said Kadpoly ASUP Chairman Mustapha Yahaya Bida: “His stand is completely at variance and in disagreement with national interest, and the desire of Kaduna Polytechnic and indeed any academic common sense. We the local chapter of ASUP, Kaduna Polytechnic, wish to make it abundantly clear that the position of the National President, ASUP, on the conversion is not only unreasonable but must be seen as his personal opinion and has no bearing with the position of Kaduna Polytechnic, ASUP Kaduna Polytechnic Chapter.

“As far as Kaduna Polytechnic is concerned, we pray, fast and beg on our knees that Mr. Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, through our amiable mentor the, Honourable Minister of Education, Professor Ruqqayatu Rufa’i, midwifes the conversion of Kaduna Polytechnic to a university so that government’s huge investment on this institution could be fully utilised for providing more admission to our teeming youth to acquire university education, make use of the available infrastructural resources for high level researches and community development.”

Bida said that Kadpoly had a long history of being one of the foremost higher technical institutions in sub-Sahara Africa, adding that the history of higher education in Nigeria would not be complete without deep analysis of the contribution of Kadpoly with regard to middle manpower for both public service and private sector, particularly in the industries.

•Photo: Education Minister, Prof. Ruqqayatu Rufa’i.