ABUJA — The Senate on Wednesday passed a bill that sought to prohibit discrimination between the university degree and the High National Diploma (HND) certificate holders in the country.
The bill which was sponsored by Senator Ayo Akinyelure passed the third reading during the plenary session on Wednesday.
The Chairman of the Joint Committee that worked on the legislation, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, said the bill will free the HND Holders from stagnation and ensure balance treatment with their counterparts from other tertiary institutions in the country.
The Lawmaker added that the abolishment of the dichotomy between the Polytechnics and universities graduates would meet the huge manpower needs of Nigerians, guarantee social justice, and promote corporate governance, as well as encourage patriotic contributions among the HND employees in both the private and public sectors.
Senator Shekarau had earlier moved that the Senate do receive and consider the report of the Joint Committee on Establishment and Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND on the Prohibition of Discrimination between First Degree and Higher National Diplomas Bill, 2021 (SB.297).
The motion was seconded by Senator Sadiq Umar and Senate dissolved into Committee of the Whole to consider the report.
The Senate in the Committee of the Whole and Plenary then considered and approved Clauses 1-6 of the bill.
The House of Representatives passed its own version of the bill in May 2019.
Senate President Ahmed Lawan while congratulating the House said the bill has been in the process for a long time.
“Congratulations to the Senate. This particular issue has been on the front burner for a long time. I recall that in the House between 2003 and 2007, this was one Bill that was so important and it is a way of encouraging our Polytechnic graduates.
“This should not take away the kind of training they give but should be a motivation for our Polytechnic graduates,” the Senate President said.
