November 24, (THEWILL) – Barely two weeks after the Federal Ministry of Interior abolished the academic qualification dichotomy, the House of Representatives has followed suit.
The green chamber has now passed a bill abolishing the existing dichotomy between Higher National Diploma (HND) and Bachelor’s of Science (BSc) degree holders in the country.
The “bill for an act to abolish and prohibit dichotomy and discrimination between first degrees and HND in the same profession” was passed during Tuesday’s plenary.
The legislation, which was sponsored by Ali Isa and Edward Pwajok from Gombe and Plateau States respectively, had been passed for second reading since April 2017.
It seeks to end perceived discrimination against polytechnic graduates and remove the challenges faced by HND holders, especially those in the public service.
The bill passed its final stage when members voted at the Committee of the Whole presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Rep. Ahmed Wase.
The passage was sequel to a unanimous adoption of a report of the House Committee on Tertiary Education and TETFund after conducting hearing on the bill.
While presenting the bill for second reading, Pwajok had said that a research conducted on both certificates, showed that the discrimination had no moral justification.
He observed that those with first degree were placed on Grade Level 8, while those with HND in the same field were placed on Grade Level 6 or 7, adding that in some organisations, degree holders were paid N100, 000 at entry level, while their counterparts with HND were paid N70,000 monthly salary.
However ending the dichotomy between polytechnic and University graduates, the bill stated: “Notwithstanding any provision in any legislation, circular, regulation or policy guideline, First Degree and Higher National Diploma shall be deemed construed and treated as equivalent qualification for the purpose of employment and career progression at workplace in the public and private sectors of the Nigerian economy.
“Any provision in-laws, enactments, instruments, circulars, scheme of service, directives, or policies by whatever name called, which is inconsistent with the provisions of this bill, shall to the extent of the inconsistency be null and void, and of no effect.
“Holders of the First Degree and the Higher National Diploma (HND) shall be given equal treatment and opportunity in career placements, career progression, admission to further studies and privileges whatsoever in consideration of status as graduates of Nigeria tertiary institutions of higher learning.
“All forms of discriminations and or dichotomy between First Degree and Higher National Diplomas for the purpose of employment, transfer of service, conversion of cadre, career progression, promotion, and other related issues in the public and private sectors of the Nigerian economy is hereby abolished.
“No person, authority, entity (body or corporate) in whatsoever name call shall discriminate and or undertake any action in any form whatsoever which is misconstrued as and or intended to give any preferential treatment in favour of and/or against holders of the First Degree or the Higher National Diploma.
“Any person or entity in the public or private sectors of the Nigerian economy who contravenes the provisions of this bill commits an offence under this bill and shall be liable upon conviction to a term of two years’ imprisonment or a fine of N1,000,000 or both.
“Any person or entity in the public or private sectors of the Nigerian economy who design, prescribe and or specify any guidelines, terms or conditions of employment, career progression, and or any other instrument by whatever name called in violation of the provisions of this bill shall be guilty of an offence under this bill and liable upon conviction to a term of 1-year imprisonment or a fine of N500,000 (five hundred thousand naira) or both”, it states.
Prescribing appropriate sanctions, the bill states that any person who induces or encourages any other person for the violation of any of the provisions of this bill shall be liable upon conviction to a fine of N500,000, imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or to both.
It further states that where an officer of any entity in the public or private sector fails to comply with the provisions of its provisions, the person shall be guilty of an offence and liable upon conviction to an imprisonment term of six months or a fine of N500,000 or both.
“Where in any proceedings against any person for an offence under this bill, it is established that any action constituting an offence under this bill has been committed by an officer, it shall be presumed that the action was done with the motive or intent of committing an offence under this bill as the case may be until the contrary is proved”, it added.
The bill would now be sent to the Senate for concurrence and then to the President for assent.
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