ASUP Urges President Buhari to Eliminate BSC/HND Dichotomy before May 29 Departure
The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to sign the bill abolishing the BSC/HND dichotomy into law before his tenure ends on May 29.
In an interview with Vanguard in Abuja, ASUP’s National President, Comrade Anderson Ezeibe, highlighted that the dichotomy has discouraged young Nigerians from pursuing polytechnic education. Ezeibe emphasized that President Buhari’s assent to the bill before leaving office would leave a lasting and significant legacy.
He said: “We are urging President Buhari to go ahead and sign that bill into law. That is another way of saving this sector. As we speak, the Roman figures are dropping significantly so because the sector is losing its attraction to young people.
“So we expect him to sign this bill. Other stakeholders in the sector have also been calling for him to do so. It will be an enduring legacy if Mr. President succeeds in doing this before he leaves office.”
He added that stakeholders Urge President Buhari to Sign Bill Ending BSC/HND Dichotomy. Key stakeholders in the polytechnic education sector have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to promptly sign the “Bill for an Act to Abolish and Prohibit Dichotomy and Discrimination between First Degree and Higher National Diploma” into law.
The Ninth National Assembly passed the bill in 2021, and it has been presented to President Buhari for his assent to become effective legislation.
The bill aims to address the discrimination faced by polytechnic graduates compared to their university counterparts regarding employment and promotion opportunities. It has long been a concern for stakeholders in the polytechnic community who have sought an end to this disparity.
Sponsored by Senator Ayo Akinyelure, the bill successfully passed the third reading in the Senate, with all six amended clauses receiving approval. Ahmad Kaita, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and Tertiary Education Trust Fund, presented the committee’s report.
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Chairman of the Joint Committee, Ibrahim Shekarau, emphasized that enacting the bill would ensure equal treatment for Higher National Diploma (HND) holders and create opportunities for career advancement in Nigeria. Presently, HND holders face limitations in the civil service, unable to progress beyond Grade Level GL 16.
Additionally, there is a disparity in entry-level positions, with polytechnic graduates starting at Grade Level GL 07 compared to university graduates.
By signing this bill into law, President Buhari can address these discrepancies and provide equitable treatment for all graduates in Nigeria’s employment landscape.
