HOR Passes Bill To Abolish Dichotomy Between HND, Degree Holders

The House of Representatives has passed a bill seeking to abolish the dichotomy between Higher National Diploma, HND, and Bachelor’s Degree holders in the country.

The bill, which passed its second reading, aims to amend the Federal Polytechnics Act, Cap. F17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

Sponsored by the Speaker Abbas Tajudeen and Chairman, House Committee on Federal Polytechnics and other Technical Education, Fuad Laguda, the bill seeks to review the functions of polytechnics and promote the powers of educational boards.

According to Laguda, the proposed legislation aims to establish polytechnics nationwide to drive technical education development.

The bill also proposes to replace HND with a B.Tech degree, enabling polytechnic graduates to compete with university graduates.

The Speaker, Dr Abbas Tajudeen, stated that the bill is apt, as it seeks to abolish the longstanding BSc./HND dichotomy.

The bill was referred to the House Committee on Polytechnics and other Higher Education for further legislative action

Oduyemi Odumade, Edited By Grace Namiji