Bill to end degree, HND dichotomy passes second reading

A bill for an Act to abolish and prohibit dichotomy and discrimination between first degree and the Higher National Diploma certificates in the same profession and field scaled the second reading on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday. The bill, sponsored by the member representing Ondo Central Senatorial District, Ayo Akinyelure, specifically seeks to end the ongoing controversy over wage disparity and gross discrimination against HND holders in the public and private sectors. He said, “The aftermath of continuing injustices, disparity and discriminations meted out to products of polytechnics in Nigeria is threatening to derail the nation’s core policy thrust of evolving a technological and scientifically-based and self-reliant society in the nearest future. “As I speak, thousands of would-be polytechnic and technology students are contemplating or have decided to opt for university education because of perceived and real discrimination against HND graduates. “If this contemplation occurs, there is bound to be a vacuum created in our labour market in this regard and dire consequences are bound to follow this trend. “Over the years, several entreaties have been put forth to the Federal Civil Service authorities to put a stop to certain glaring wage disparities and discrimination against the HND holders, and all these have been to no avail.” He said to make matters worse, certain federal parastatals are known to openly discriminate against HND holders to the extent of limiting their progress within the hierarchy of such government bodies.