A bill seeking to eliminate the long-standing distinction between holders of Bachelor’s Degrees and Higher National Diplomas (HND) has passed its second reading in the House of Representatives.
Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, stated that the proposed legislation aims to replace the HND qualification with a Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech), allowing polytechnic graduates to compete on an equal footing with their university counterparts.
The bill, sponsored by Fuad Laguda from Lagos State, also highlights the importance of technical education and proposes structural changes in polytechnic governance. Abbas explained that polytechnic boards across Nigeria support the move, emphasizing that degree programs in polytechnics should be supervised by the National Universities Commission (NUC), while the National Diploma (ND) would remain under the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
Additionally, the bill proposes that rectors of polytechnics should hold a Ph.D. as a minimum qualification, given the shift towards awarding degree-level qualifications.
Following a voice vote, lawmakers approved the bill to proceed to the next legislative stage. If passed into law, this reform could significantly reshape Nigeria’s higher education system and workforce competitiveness.
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