A bill aimed at abolishing the disparity between Bachelor’s Degree holders and Higher National Diploma (HND) holders has successfully passed its second reading in the House of Representatives.
Speaker Tajudeen Abbas explained that the bill seeks to replace the HND with a Bachelor of Technology (BTech) degree, enabling polytechnic graduates to compete on equal footing with university graduates. The bill, sponsored by Fuad Laguda, a representative from Lagos State, also highlights the growing importance of technical education.
Speaker Abbas emphasized that all polytechnic boards in Nigeria support the abolition of the HND and the introduction of the Bachelor of Technology degree to ensure polytechnic graduates have the same recognition and opportunities as their university counterparts.
He also noted that polytechnic boards are advocating for a hybrid supervisory structure in which the National Universities Commission (NUC) would oversee the degree component of polytechnic education, while the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) would continue to manage the National Diploma programs.
Given the degree focus of the proposed changes, Abbas stated that the qualification for rectors of polytechnics should be upgraded to a Ph.D., ensuring that the head of such institutions is qualified to oversee degree-level programs.
Following a voice vote, the House of Representatives approved the bill to proceed to the next stage.
