House of Reps Moves to Abolish BSc/HND Dichotomy in Nigeria

The Nigerian House of Representatives is taking steps to eliminate the long-standing disparity between BSc and HND qualifications, promoting equal opportunities in the job market.

On Tuesday, the House of Representatives approved a bill for its second reading that seeks to amend the Federal Polytechnics Act.

The proposed changes aim to raise the qualifications needed for appointing Rectors at Polytechnics and empower them to confer Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech.) degrees, instead of the current practice of awarding Higher National Diplomas (HND).

The bill, introduced by Abbas Tajudeen, the Speaker of the House, along with Fuad Laguda, who chairs the House Committee on Federal Polytechnics and Higher Technical Education, aims to resolve longstanding issues related to the BSc/HND controversy.

If enacted and approved, the new law will address discrepancies between polytechnic and university qualifications, offering a more defined pathway for higher education in the country.

Moreover, the bill aims to enhance the qualifications required for appointing Rectors of Polytechnics, ensuring that these leaders meet the evolving demands of the education sector.

Kicking off the discussion on the bill, Laguda characterized the Federal Polytechnics Act Laws of Nigeria 2004 as legislation enacted by the National Assembly. This Act aims to establish polytechnic institutions across different regions of Nigeria to offer full-time programs in technology, applied sciences, management, and other disciplines while also outlining provisions for their overall administration.

He explained that to enhance efficiency and advance polytechnic education in Nigeria, the Act was revised in 2019. This amendment aimed to raise the retirement age for polytechnic staff and standardize the terms of office for Rectors and other principal officers at Nigerian Polytechnics.

He stated that the present Bill aims to further amend the Act in order to keep pace with the demands of our constantly evolving world while adhering to international best practices.

He stated that the bill aims to expand the Council’s membership by including representatives from technical institutional bodies such as the NBTE and Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN). It also seeks to broaden the functions of Federal Polytechnics in Nigeria, providing a clearer and more results-driven administrative structure.

He explained that clause 2 of the bill aims to amend section 3 of the Principal Act, incorporating representatives from NBTE and MAN into the Council of each polytechnic in Nigeria.

He further explained that clause 3 of the amendment aims to revise section 8 in order to elevate the qualification requirements for candidates aspiring to become Rectors of federal polytechnics in Nigeria.

Additionally, clause 4 will modify section 15 of the Principal Act to expand the powers of the Academic Board, enabling it, among other things, to award Bachelor of Technology (B. Tech) Hons degrees.

Abbas Tajudeen, the Speaker of the House and primary sponsor of the bill, stated that it was an initiative from the National Board for Technical Education aimed at eliminating the disparity between BSc and HND holders.

He stated that the amendment will eliminate HND, allowing polytechnics to confer Bachelor of Technology degrees. Furthermore, he noted that the law would raise the minimum qualification for Rectors at these institutions to a PhD.

The Speaker clarified that the amendment will not impact the awarding of ONDs by polytechnics, as they will remain available for lower-level manpower.