As a matter of necessity, polytechnic lecturers in the country have again raised concern on the need for President Bola Tinubu to sign into law the bill designed to end the disparity between the holders of the first degree (BSc) and higher national diploma (HND) certificates in the country.

The National President of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Dr. Anderson Ezeibe, renewed the call in an exclusive interview with Tribune Online at the weekend.

Recalls that in Nigeria’s employment policy, particularly in the civil service, both the entry and termination levels for the holders of first-degree certificates awarded by universities differ from that of the HND holders, with the former category in a far better advantage.

And to make the two certificates equal in the labour market, the 9th National Assembly after several debates passed on the bill to the then President, Muhammadu Buhari to sign into law, and for about two years he withheld his signatory till he left the office.

Speaking further, Ezeibe explained that during this period, ASUP and many other stakeholders called on the former president and also the 9th National Assembly to ensure the bill become a law before they left office but all the pleas were to no avail.

He said all his thought before the current government came on board was that the bill would be thrown into the dustbin and could be re-introduced only if the members of the10th National Assembly are interested in it but the recent signing into laws of some bills by the new president within the last one month is an indication that the BsC\HND end to Disparity Bill is equally still valid.

Ezeibe said now is high time that Nigeria signed the Bill into law, saying it is no longer fashionable for Nigeria to be playing back and front game with issues of public importance like the one in focus.

He emphasised that ending the disparity between the two educational qualifications is long overdue and would certainly boost enrolment for polytechnic education in the country.

He declared that the disparity had done great damage to the polytechnic education in the country as many brilliant technical students, who would have naturally enrolled to acquire high technical skills and knowledge are running away from seeking admission into polytechnics.

“And this development,” he pointed out, “would continue to affect Nigeria’s education and economy negatively if not addressed and reversed.”

Ezeibe, therefore, urged President Tinubu to ensure he makes history by signing the bill into law and officially putting to an end all forms of discrimination in connection with the long-existing dichotomy between the holders of both academic certificates, particularly at workplaces. (Tribune)

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