SERVICOM PRESENTS COMPLIANCE EVALUATION REPORTS TO NATIONAL BOARD FOR TECHNICAL EDUCATION
The National Coordinator/CEO SERVICOM Mrs. Nnenna Akajemeli has presented the SERVICOM Compliance Evaluation Reports of 23 selected Federal Polytechnics in Nigeria to the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
The report was formally presented to the Executive Secretary of the Board, Prof. Idris Muhammad Bugaje at the NBTE Liaison Office in Abuja on the 5th of July, 2022.
According to her, the overall objective of the SERVICOM Compliance Evaluation is to ensure citizens focused Service Delivery in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), identify gaps in Service Delivery and make recommendations to the NBTE (Federal Polytechnics) to improve customer satisfaction and accountability.
Mrs. Akajemeli also highlighted that, the mandate of Federal Polytechnics in Nigeria is to train Technologists, Technicians and management skills in courses leading to the awards of certificates.
She informed the Board that the Polytechnics were established to promote vocational education and training, technology transfer as well as skills development to enhance the socio-economic advancement of the country.
The SERVICOM Boss stated that twenty-three (23) out of the 37 Federal Polytechnics were selected for assessment of their evaluation compliance with the SERVICOM Index, and that evidence was gathered at the service windows evaluated through customer interviews, discussions with management, staff and partners, review of key documents, desk research and general observations.
Findings revealed in the report indicated that trainings for staff are inadequate, Service Charters are obsolete, funds are released late, Poor Staff Attitude and Slow response to students’ complaints.
Nevertheless, some polytechnics have introduced online platform where students can apply for their transcripts and get them in record time and have made provision for solar-powered boreholes for constant water supply within the polytechnic community.
While speaking on the strengths and weaknesses of the various Polytechnics, the National Coordinator added that, the SERVICOM Compliance evaluation was based on five (5) driver(s) which include the service delivery, timeliness, information, professionalism and staff attitude.
Mrs. Akajemeli further urged the management of the NBTE to ensure that Service Charter is produced by all Federal Polytechnics while those with obsolete Charters should be reviewed to contain key services provided and service standards which would bring about improvement.
In her words, ‘’ it is our belief that service windows concerned would ensure continuous improvement on the quality of service delivered to their customers when the recommendations contained in these reports are truly implemented’’ she noted.
Prof. Idris Muhammad Bugaje said his organization is very much at home with SERVICOM and expressed willingness to comply with SERVICOM’s standards and implement recommendations made in the reports.
Bugaje appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari and the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Folashade Yemi-Esan to grant the Polytechnic special waivers to enable them employ more lecturers to bridge the shortfall in manpower.