Reps Move to Scrap HND, BSc Dichotomy

The House of Representatives has passed a second reading of a bill aimed at eliminating the discrimination between holders of Higher National Diploma (HND) and Bachelor’s degrees in Nigeria. The bill, which is a private member bill, was sponsored by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Hon. Fuad Laguda, who heads the House Committee on Federal Polytechnics and Other Technical Education. The lawmakers stated that the bill would amend the Federal Polytechnics Act to update the roles of polytechnics and prevent the unfair treatment of HND holders compared to their university counterparts.

In his lead debate, Hon. Laguda stated that the proposed legislation seeks to establish polytechnics nationwide to drive the development of technical education in polytechnics in Nimatter. According to him, the bill also seeks to promote the powers of educational boards and include representation from the Nigerian Technical Board, among other things.

The Presiding Speaker, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, stated that the spirit of the bill is apt, as it seeks to, among other things, abolish the long-standing BSc. /HND dichotomy by replacing HND with a B.Tech degree, enabling such graduates to compete favourably with those from universities.

The bill was voted on, approved for a second reading and referred to the House Committee on Polytechnics and Other Higher Education.

Also at plenary, the lawmakers passed a bill through Second Reading that seeks to provide for the establishment and functions of the Legislative Security Directorate in the National Assembly, as well as the Qualification and Conditions of Service of the Sergeant–at–Arms and other Personnel of the Directorate, and for related matters.

The private member’s bill was sponsored by the Hon. Rotimi Akintunde, Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs.

The Tuesday plenary was attended by a Delegation of the United Kingdom (UK) Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.

Leading a debate on the admittance of the delegation into the House of Representatives Chamber, Majority Leader Hon. Julius Ihonvbere cited the provisions of the House Standing Order Six, Rule 4 (1) and (2).

This, according to him, is to enable the House to: “admit into the Chamber, a Delegation of the United Kingdom (UK) Branch of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association to observe the House Proceedings”.