25th September, 2012
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Monday signed into law the new Lagos State Polytechnic Law, saying it will give muscle to the State’s technological and Science Education in such a way that is impactful.
The new Lagos State Polytechnic bill was passed by the State House of Assembly following the repeal of the old Lagos Polytechnic Law as a result of the several amendments made to it by the House.
The Governor, who spoke at the Conference Room of the Lagos House, Ikeja, added that Polytechnics are the bedrock of industrialization and innovation in the society where they are optimally utilized.
He described Polytechnics as a place where things are done rather than where they are propounded, stressing that they are the bulwark of productive activities in societies where they are optimized.
According to the Governor, “the new law will position the Lagos State Government to fully utilize its Polytechnic by laying emphasis on not only the objective of Polytechnics but focusing on how the government deploys its strongest resource, which is human capital, within the confines and precincts of the Polytechnic given a longer planning period”.
Governor Fashola added that the new law will ensure that academic staff give more of their skills before they are compulsorily taken out of service just as it also gives the government the opportunity to get the greatest value for its resources. Thanking the State House of Assembly for its continuing intervention in a legislative manner in improving the wellbeing of residents of the state, Governor Fashola declared: “The new law will give muscle to the state’s educational commitment as a people to skill development, technical and science education at a level where it is able to be impactful on the nation’s development plans.”
Earlier, while giving an insight into the new law, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaiye, said while the Lagos State Polytechnic is not a new institution, in view of the several amendments made to the old law by the State House of Assembly, it was decided that a new law be enacted.
He added that the new law gives statutory powers to the State Polytechnic with all powers identified with statutory bodies in the education sector adding that part of what is included in the new law is a provision for the constitution of the governing council which has a four year tenure that is renewable once to now include a representative of the academic board, a representative of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), a member of a relevant professional body, the Alumni association and two representatives of the congregation made up of one academic and one non-academic members.
The law also makes the Governor the moderator of the Polytechnic with power to set up a Visitation Panel to the institution at any time he considers it necessary while the Rector of the institution will now be entitled to a single term of five years with two deputy rectors, one for the academics and the other for administration with a two year tenure that is renewable once.
Prominent among those who witnessed the law signing ceremony were the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, a member of the State House of Assembly, Egberogbe Mufutau, members of the State Executive Council and Special Adviser on Political and Legislative Powers Bureau, Oloruntele Folami.