Federal Polytechnic

What is ASUP and Why was it Established? 

Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) was founded to fulfill the following objectives:

• To bring together all academic staff from Nigeria’s polytechnics, monotechnics, and
• To encourage its members to take an active role in the advancement of Nigeria’s technology, education and commerce.
• To advance, promote, and demand that its members be provided with adequate working circumstances.
• To pursue additional goals that are legal and do not conflict with the spirit of Nigerian trade unionism.
• To work with the Federal and State governments to establish a culture of good governance in order to achieve the goals of Nigerian Polytechnic/Monotechnic education.
• To enhance and encourage its members’ education and training.
• Collaborating with other organizations and unions that have similar goals.
• To achieve and maintain a high level of academic achievement as well as professional and technological competence.
• To provide beneficial service(s) to its members.

History of ASUP Strikes in Recent Years

In November 2017, the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) announced that they would commence ‘a total and comprehensive indefinite’ strike. Their decision was reached due to the failure of the federal government to meet the outstanding agreement.

ASUP, however, suspended the strike fifteen days later. This is because the federal government agreed to put the recommendations of the 2014 NEEDS assessment into action.

The agreement stressed the importance of increased funding for polytechnics.

On the 12^th of December, 2018, ASUP began a nationwide strike as they joined university lecturers who had been on strike for more than a month.

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic’s president revealed that the federal government did not meet the polytechnic lecturers’ demands.

The president announced that the strike would be ‘total and indefinite.’

In June 2021, the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) declared a strike unless the federal government complies with its demands.

In a nine-point demand, the body sought, among other things, the adoption of a new remuneration plan, the revitalization of polytechnics, the establishment of a national commission for polytechnics, the implementation of a new national minimum wage, and the payment of arrears.

After that, ASUP suspended its sixty-five (65) days industrial strike.

This followed an agreement that was reached between the federal government and the union.

The National Publicity Secretary of ASUP, Mr. Abdullahi Yalwa, said regarding the suspension:

“The suspension is for a period of three months to enable the government complete the execution of the items contained in the Memorandum of Action signed with the Union from 27^th April, 2021.”

The union expects that the suspension of the strike would create an enabling climate for the government to complete other parts of the memorandum.

Has ASUP Helped in Improving the Educations Standards?

ASUP has helped in improving the education standards in several ways. ASUP seeks for the revitalization of polytechnics, the implementation of a new minimum wage, the adoption of a new remuneration plan, and a host of others.

List of Polytechnics Under ASUP

The following are the polytechnics under the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP):

Federal Polytechnic, Bida

Federal Polytechnic Ado Ekiti

Federal Polytechnic Offa

Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa

Federal Polytechnic Bauchi

Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic Unwana

Federal Polytechnic Ede

Federal Polytechnic Oko

Federal Polytechnic Nekede

Federal Polytechnic Idah

Auchi Polytechnic

Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna

Federal Polytechnic Bali

Federal Polytechnic Ilaro

Federal Polytechnic, Daura

Federal Polytechnic Ekowe

Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashikwu

Rivers State Polytechnic, Bori

Federal Polytechnic Damaturu

Yaba College of Technology

Federal Polytechnic of Oil and Gas Bonny

Federal Polytechnic Kaltungo

Federal Polytechnic Ile-Oluji

Federal Polytechnic Mubi

Federal Polytechnic Kaura Namoda

National Institute of Construction Technology Uromi

Portharcourt City Polytechnic, Portharcourt

Airforce Institute of Technology (AFIT)

Waziri Umaru Federal Polytechnic

Petroleum Training Institute Effurun

Nigerian Army Institute of Technology and Environmental Science (NAITES)

Hussaini Adamu Federal Polytechnic

Federal Polytechnic Ukana

Shehu Idris College of Health Science Makarfi

Bauchi State College of Agriculture, Bauchi

Petroleum engineering deals with activities that are associated with the production of hydrocarbons.

Crude oil or natural gas are examples of hydrocarbons.

Petroleum engineering is an area of engineering concerned with the processes that enable the development and exploitation of crude oil and natural gas fields and the technical study, computer modeling, and forecasting of future production performance.

Drilling, producing, processing, and transporting gaseous and liquid hydrocarbon products and the related economic and regulatory considerations are all concerns of the petroleum engineer, whose goal is to extract gaseous and liquid hydrocarbon products from the earth.

Here are the top five (5) polytechnics that study petroleum engineering:

1. Petroleum Training Institute, Effurun

Petroleum Training Institute (P.T.I.) is a federal government-owned institution founded in 1973. It was founded as a prerequisite for the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)’s membership with the aim of training indigenous middle-level manpower to meet the demands of the oil and gas industry in search of more labour force.

Petroleum Training Institute awards National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (ND) certificates and General Welding Certificates.

Some of the departments in Petroleum Training Institute, Effurun, include:

Electrical Engineering

Petroleum & Natural Gas Processing

Mechanical Engineering

Petroleum Engineering and Geosciences

Petroleum Marketing and Business Studies

2. Yaba College of Technology

Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) is a government-owned polytechnic founded in 1947.

Located in Yaba, Lagos State, YABATECH is the first higher educational institution to establish a Centre for Entrepreneurship Development.

Yaba College of Technology offers Mineral and Petroleum Engineering.

3. Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti

Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti

Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti is a federal government owned and managed institution of higher learning situated in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

The polytechnic offers programmes such as mineral resources and engineering technology, civil engineering technology, mechanical engineering technology, and a host of others.

4. Kwara State Polytechnic

Kwara State Polytechnic is a state-funded and managed tertiary institution founded by the then Military Governor of Kwara State, Col. David Bamigboye, in 1973.

It is situated in the capital of Kwara State, Ilorin.

5. Federal Polytechnic of Oil and Gas, Bonny

Federal Polytechnic of Oil & Gas, Bonny, is a federal government-owned polytechnic situated in Rivers State. The polytechnic aims at becoming a top institution that creates skilled manpower to Nigeria and Africa’s oil and gas industry.

The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has officially accredited the Federal Polytechnic of Oil & Gas Bonny, Rivers State, as one of the recognized polytechnics in Nigeria.

O’ Level Requirements for Petroleum Engineering in Nigeria

Candidates wishing to study Petroleum Engineering in the polytechnic must obtain credit passes in the courses (listed below) at O’ Level (WAEC, NABTEB, NECO, GCE):

• Mathematics
• English Language
• Physics
• Chemistry
• Another science course.

UTME Requirements for Petroleum Engineering in Nigeria

Candidates wishing to study Petroleum Engineering in the polytechnic should apply for these UTME subject combinations:

• Mathematics
• English Language
• Chemistry
• Physics

Entry Requirements to Study Computer Science in a Polytechnic

Here are the course entry requirements to study Computer Science in a polytechnic:

• A minimum of five credit passes in relevant subjects in SSCE/GCE ordinary level. The credit passes should be obtained at not more than two sittings.
• Five credit passes in relevant subjects attained at the end of an NBTE-approved Preliminary National Diploma (Pre-ND) program delivered in a polytechnic or similar higher institution.
• A pass in a trade plus four relevant academic courses on the National Technical Certificate (NTC) or National Business Certificate (NBC).
• A qualifying score on the UTME exam, as determined by JAMB on an annual basis.
• SSCE GCE O’ Level with a minimum of pass grades/ordinary passes or their equivalent in English Language and Mathematics, as well as three subjects from the following list: Further Mathematics, Biology/ Agricultural Science/Health Science, Food and Nutrition, Physics, Technical Drawing/ Fine Arts, Geography, General Metal Work, Food and Nutrition, General Metal Work, Basic Electricity, Statistics, General Woodwork, Economics, Economics, Religious Knowledge, and Clothing and Textile.

List of Computer Science Subjects or Courses in a Polytechnic

Human-Computer Interaction

Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) is a field that focuses on the interfaces between humans and computers and is focused on the design and usage of computer technology.

Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) researchers study how people interact with computers and develop technology that allows them to do so in new ways.

Data Science

Data Science is an interdisciplinary field that uses scientific methods, procedures, algorithms, and systems to extract information and insights from structured and unstructured data, as well as to apply that knowledge and actionable insights to a variety of application areas.

Natural Language Processing

Natural Language Processing is a branch of linguistics, computer science, and artificial intelligence concerned with computer-human interaction, particularly how to design computers to process and evaluate huge volumes of natural language data.

Software Engineering

The application of engineering concepts to software development is known as software engineering. Its primary purpose is to create, improve, and maintain software.

When working on a program, software engineering considers engineering aspects such as the hardware and software environment.

Cyber Security

Cybersecurity refers to the safeguarding of internet-connected systems, including hardware, software, and data, from cyberthreats.

Individuals and businesses utilize the method to prevent illegal access to data centers and other digital systems.

Networking and Communication

The study, design, implementation, and use of local, wide-area, and mobile networks that connect computers are all part of networking and communication. The Internet is a network that allows practically all computers on the planet to communicate with one another.

Computer Graphics

Computer graphics is a branch of computer science that investigates ways of creating and modifying visual images digitally.

Although the phrase is most commonly associated with three-dimensional computer graphics, it also includes two-dimensional graphics and image processing.

Algorithms and Complexity

Algorithm complexity is a metric that examines the order of a given or algorithm’s count of operations as a function of the size of the input data.

To put it another way, complexity is a rough estimate of the number of steps required to complete an algorithm.

Computer Science

Computer science is the study of computers and computational systems.

Computer scientists create and analyze algorithms to solve programs and research computer hardware and software performance. A specialization in computer science makes a kind of a “jack of all trades” with the ability branch to any other aspect.

Information Systems

Information System is a collection of interconnected components that gather, store, and analyze data and provide information, knowledge, and digital products.

Interorganizational supply chains and electronic markets are run using information systems.

In Nigeria, applications are made into public and private polytechnics to bag Ordinary National Diploma (OND) and/or Higher National Diploma (HND).

Admissions are granted to candidates who fulfill the requirements as listed by a respective polytechnic.

The duration of programmes in polytechnic usually lasts for four years (Ordinary National Diploma and Higher National Diploma).

This is similar to a four-year Bachelor’s degree programme at the university.

What is the OND Program?

OND, popularly known as ND, refers to the Ordinary National Diploma.

After the two-year programme, the polytechnic awards students with degrees. A holder of a National Diploma can gain employment or further their education by enrolling for the Higher National Diploma (HND).

A holder of a National Diploma can also gain admission into a university. This can also be done through Direct Entry (DE) admission.

How to Get Admitted to an OND Program?

To gain admission into a polytechnic for an OND program, candidates must have sat for the JAMB UTME and taken part in the institution’s admission screening exercise or Post UTME.

Candidates who meet the polytechnic’s admission requirements and gains admission will proceed to National Diploma (ND) 1 in the polytechnic while studying their desired course as chosen when purchasing the JAMB form.

Candidates can also be admitted into the Ordinary National Diploma program by applying for the daily part-time programmes (DPP).

What differentiates DPP from full time is the difference in cost.

Candidates may also decide to apply for the regular part-time course, which usually runs for two years.

After completing the two-year Ordinary National Diploma (OND) programme at a given polytechnic, students will be awarded their ND certificates.

An ND certificate can be used to enroll in the university through JAMB Direct Entry (DE) admission.

These candidates will, however, continue from the 200 level. Students can also further their education in a polytechnic by enrolling for Higher National Diploma (HND).

Length of Time for OND

Ordinary National Diploma (OND) is usually a two years programme.

Under Which Condition can an HND or OND Program Last Longer or Shorter

OND or HND programmes cannot be run for less than the duration. However, it can last longer if a student has outstanding courses that must be passed. Such a student might have to spend an extra year to rewrite the examination.

Benue State Polytechnic

What is the HND Program?

The Higher National Diploma (HND) is awarded to a polytechnic graduate after the completion of the National Diploma programme (2 years), Industrial Training (1 or 2 years), and Higher National Diploma programme (2 years).

Enrolling for a Higher National Diploma (HND) programme does not require sitting for JAMB UTME or purchasing the Direct Entry (DE) form.

Instead, the polytechnic would organize a screening or entrance test, depending on their individual requirements.

How to Get Admitted to an HND Program? 

To get admitted to a Higher National Diploma (HND) programme, candidates are required to meet the following criteria:

1. Candidates should fulfill the O’ Level entry requirements for admission into National Diploma programmes.
2. Candidates should have obtained a minimum of Lower Credit in National Diploma (ND).
3. Candidates must have obtained one year post cognate National Diploma (ND) Industrial experience.

Kindly note that some polytechnics have their respective admission requirements into the HND programme.

Length of Time for HND

Higher National Diploma usually runs for a duration of two years.