By Saheed Ibrahim

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The National Association of Polytechnic Students has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to end the dichotomy between the Higher National Diploma and Bachelor of Science holders before leaving office on May 29, 2023.

In a press statement, NAPS Deputy Senate President Adeniji Temitope threatened that Nigerian polytechnic students would shut down HND awarding institutions across the country if Buhari fails to sign the bill abolishing the dichotomy between holders of HND and BSc into law after 14 days.

Recall that in 2021, the Senate passed a bill seeking to abolish the dichotomy between the HND certificate and the university degree holders in the country.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Ahmad Kaita, presented his report, and the Senate approved all the amended six clauses.

Chairman of the Joint Committee, Ibrahim Shekarau (APC, Kano Central), said, “The enactment of the bill to abolish and prohibit discrimination between First Degrees and Higher National Diploma for employment in Nigeria will no doubt freeholders of HND from stagnation and ensure balanced treatment with their counterparts from other higher tertiary institutions in Nigeria.”

Given the delay in assenting to the bill, NAPS fumed that “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 Buhari does not assent to the HND/BSc dichotomy bill in the next 14 days,” the statement said.

The student body said it had observed that Buhari had been assenting to many bills, but the HND/BSc dichotomy bill was left out, vowing to “occupy the Presidential Villa in Abuja and continue to cry until Buhari assents to the bill.”

“Polytechnic students and graduates are one of the major persons that supported and sustained the regime of the President,” the statement adds.

“We should not be treated like an outcast in our nation. Buhari should stop the HND/BSc dichotomy now and make it one of his major achievements.”