The Federal Government plans to release N15b for the revitalisation of facilities in its polytechnics.
Acting Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr David Gender, made this known in Abuja on Tuesday at a retreat for Chairmen of Governing Councils and Principal Officers of Federal Polytechnics.
He spoke as a representative of the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu.
Gender told the retreat that government was also planning to review the scheme of service of polytechnic staff as well as resolve the issue of Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure (CONTISS-15) migration.
The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) developed CONTISS-15 in 2009.
It refers to the movement of staff from one salary grade level to the next salary grade level provided they meet all necessary requirements.
Some of the mandatory requirements include that staff must have been employed before August 2009.
According to Gender, the Federal Government is effectively engaging staff unions of polytechnics on their demands geared toward the improvement in the quality of research, teaching and learning.
“The Federal Government is committed to rapid development of our education sector with particular emphasis on technical and vocational education and training.
“This is achievable through improvement of tertiary education funding majorly by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, the CBN, and the Niger Delta Development Commission, among others.
“Unfortunately, efforts of government are hampered by persistent corruption in the sector.
“One of the strategies the ministry is adopting in addressing the issues and challenges in the polytechnics sector is the encouragement and support of periodic fund raising initiatives,’’ he said.
Gender told the retreat that initiatives included the launching of endowment funds, patents, consultancy and commercialization of research.