Senate passes bill scrapping HND/BSc dichotomy (Details)

The Senate on Wednesday considered a Bill by the Joint National Assembly Committee on Establishment and Public Service Matters, and Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND meant to prohibit all employers of labour from discriminating between university-first degree and Higher National Diploma (HND) holders.

The Committee Chairman, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau (APC-Kano), underscored the importance of the legislation, noting that its enactment would free HND holders from stagnation and ensure balanced treatment with their counterparts from universities in the country.

He said, “Ending the existing dichotomy between HND holders and graduates of universities would among others, provide the manpower needs of Nigerians, ensure social justice and enhanced corporate governance.

“It will encourage patriotic contributions amongst HND employees in public and private sectors.”

In his remarks, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, lauded the intention of the Bill, saying that its passage would motivate polytechnic graduates.

He, therefore, called on the public and private sectors to ensure the implementation of the provisions of the bill when it is signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari.

“This particular issue has been in the front burner for a long time. I recall that in the House of Representatives between 2003 and 2007, this was one bill that was so important, and is one way of encouraging our Polytechnic graduates.

“That should not take away from the kind of training they receive, but, in fact, it is supposed to be a motivation for our polytechnic graduates.

“I pray that the Federal Government and all those government agencies and the private sector would start to implement this by the time the President assents to this bill.”

(Independent Nigeria)