A legislative proposal aimed at eliminating the longstanding divide and discrimination between Bachelor’s Degree and Higher National Diploma (HND) holders has successfully passed its second reading in the House of Representatives.

Speaker Tajudeen Abbas explained that the bill seeks to replace the HND qualification with a Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) credential. This change would enable polytechnic graduates to compete on equal footing with their university counterparts. Sponsored by Lagos State representative Fuad Laguda, the bill also underscores the value of technical education.

Speaker Abbas elaborated, “The consensus among Nigeria’s polytechnic governing boards is clear: scrap the HND and introduce the Bachelor of Technology in its place. This would allow polytechnic graduates to hold their own against university graduates.” He added, “They also propose a dual-supervision model, where the National Universities Commission (NUC) oversees the degree component of polytechnic education, while the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) continues to regulate the national diploma.”

Abbas further noted that, given the introduction of degree-level programs, the bill suggests raising the minimum qualification for polytechnic rectors to a Ph.D. “Since we’re now dealing with degree offerings, it’s fitting that such institutions be led by someone with a doctoral degree,” he said.

The bill was put to a voice vote by Abbas, and lawmakers overwhelmingly supported its advancement to the second reading.