Nigerian lawmakers debate bill to give HND holders a degree status

The Nigerian parliament has debated a bill to end the disparity between Higher National Diploma (HND) holders and Bachelor’s Degree holders at the work place.

Tabled by the MPs Ali Isa and Edward Pwajok, the bill was read for the second time on Tuesday in the House of Representatives with the MPs condemning the discrimination of workers with HND against their Degree holding counterparts.

Edward Pwajok bemoaned what he described as segregation in companies when “first degree holders are placed on Grade Level 8, while those with HND are placed on Grade Level 6 or 7,” local media Vanguard Nigeria reported.

He called for a better recognition of the polytechnics and similar institutions if the private sector needs to develop.

The bill has been forwarded to the Committee on Tertiary Education and Services to review.

The HND is generally equivalent to two years at university and are issued by polytechnic institutions that offer programmes in industrial arts, applied sciences, and technical subjects.

If you decide to get a degree, you might be asked to start from the second year.

The HND originated from the United Kingdom and offered in countries with British ties.

In neighbouring Ghana, a similar debate led the government to convert polytechnics into technical universities last year.

Parliament gave its legal backing and the polytechnics are issuing degrees to technicians and technologists without mimicking traditional universities.