Abolish HND-BSc Dichotomy Before Leaving Office, Poly Students Urge Buhari

Students under the aegis of the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) have requested President Muhammadu Buhari to put an end to the difference between the Higher National Diploma (HND) and Bachelor of Science (BSc) holders before leaving office on May 29, 2023.

According to a statement made available to The Punch on Monday by NAPS deputy Senate President, Adeniji Temitope, students and graduates of polytechnics across the nation “have been facing difficulties of dichotomy for the past years.”

Adeniji noted that stakeholders had to the end requested the ninth National Assembly to pass the “Bill for an Act to Abolish and Prohibit Dichotomy and Discrimination between First Degree and Higher National Diploma.”

The bill which was sponsored by Senator Ayo Akinyelure passed the third reading in the plenary of the  Senate.

Ahmad Kaita, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND, presented his report and all the amended six clauses were approved by the Senate.

The Association praised the ninth National Assembly for a job well done but reiterated the need for the assent of the President to make it a law. 

“The Senate arm of NAPS through the Office of Deputy Senate President has agreed on shutting down all polytechnics, colleges of technology and allied institutions that award HND across Nigeria if President Buhari doesn’t assent to the HND/BSc dichotomy bill in the next 14 days,” the statement said.

NAPS further noted that the President had been assenting to several bills, leaving the HND/Bsc Dichotomy bill behind.

The student body threatened to “occupy the Presidential Villa in Abuja and continue to cry until Buhari assents to the bill.

 “We shouldn’t be treated like an outcast in our nation.”

“President Buhari should stop the HND/BSc dichotomy now and make it one of his major achievements,” the statement added.