Bill to end HND discrimination passes second reading

A bill for an Act to abolish and prohibit dichotomy and
discrimination between first degree and the Higher National
Diploma certificates in the same profession and field scaled the
second reading on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday.

The bill, sponsored by the member representing Ondo Central
Senatorial District, Ayo Akinyelure, specifically seeks to end the
ongoing controversy over wage disparity and gross discrimination
against HND holders in the public and private sectors.

He said, “The aftermath of continuing injustices, disparity and
discriminations meted out to products of polytechnics in Nigeria is
threatening to derail the nation’s core policy thrust of evolving a
technological and scientifically-based and self-reliant society in
the nearest future.

“As I speak, thousands of would-be polytechnic and technology
students are contemplating or have decided to opt for university
education because of perceived and real discrimination against
HND graduates.

“If this contemplation occurs, there is bound to be a vacuum
created in our labour market in this regard and dire consequences
are bound to follow this trend.

“Over the years, several entreaties have been put forth to the
Federal Civil Service authorities to put a stop to certain glaring
wage disparities and discrimination against the HND holders, and
all these have been to no avail.”

Source: punch.ng