National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) has called on the Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, to end the discrimination between the Higher National Diploma (HND) and Bachelor of Science (BSc) before his tenure ends on May 29, 2023.
According to NAPS Deputy Senate President, Adeniji Temitope, polytechnic students and graduates have been facing difficulties of dichotomy for years, and stakeholders in the polytechnic education sector have urged the National Assembly to pass the “Bill for an Act to Abolish and Prohibit Dichotomy and Discrimination between First Degree and Higher National Diploma.”
In 2021, the Senate passed a bill seeking to abolish the dichotomy between HND certificate and university degree holders in the country.
The legislation was sponsored by Senator Ayo Akinyelure and passed the third reading on the floor of the Senate at plenary.
The Chairman of the Joint Committee, Ibrahim Shekarau (APC, Kano Central), stated that “the enactment of the bill to abolish and prohibit discrimination between First Degrees and Higher National Diploma for the purpose of employment in Nigeria will no doubt free holders of HND from stagnation and ensure balanced treatment with their counterparts from other higher tertiary institutions in Nigeria.”
NAPS commended the Ninth National Assembly for passing the Bill, but emphasized that the President’s assent was necessary to make it a law.
The statement further disclosed that the Senate arm of NAPS had agreed to shut down all polytechnics, colleges of technology, and allied institutions that award HND across Nigeria if President Buhari doesn’t assent to the HND/BSc dichotomy bill in the next 14 days.
The student body also noted that Buhari had been assenting to many bills but left out the HND/BSc dichotomy bill.
It vowed to “occupy the Presidential Villa in Abuja and continue to cry until Buhari assents to the bill.”
The NAPS statement further emphasized that polytechnic students and graduates were one of the major supporters of Buhari’s regime, adding that they should not be treated like outcasts in their nation.
It called on the President to end the HND/BSc dichotomy and make it one of his major achievements before leaving office.
Article updated 2 months ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
