Nigerian lawmakers amend Federal Polytechnic Act, empower polytechnics to award bachelor’s degrees

The Senate on Thursday amended the Federal Polytechnic Act to empower federal polytechnics to award Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech. Hons.) degrees in science, engineering and technology-related programmes.

The amendment followed the Senate’s decision to rescind its earlier position on the Act, which limited the qualifications federal polytechnics could award to the National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND).

The new provision allows federal polytechnics to award bachelor’s degrees to holders of the ND, HND or Postgraduate Diploma, subject to accreditation by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and other relevant regulatory bodies.

The decision followed a motion moved by the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), during Thursday’s plenary.

Mr Bamidele said certain provisions of sections 2, 8 and 31 of the Act required further legislative scrutiny and amendment to provide administrative clarity and establish a comprehensive legal framework.

He urged the Senate to recommit the Act to the Committee of the Whole for further consideration and amendment.

Provisions of the amendment

The amendment introduces a new subsection, Section 2(1)(c), empowering federal polytechnics to award Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech. Hons.) degrees in science, engineering and technology programmes to holders of the ND, HND or Postgraduate Diploma.

“Award the Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech. Hons.) degree in Science, Engineering and Technology programmes to holders of the National Diploma (ND), Higher National Diploma (HND) or Postgraduate Diploma, subject to accreditation by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and relevant regulatory bodies,” the section states.

The provision makes the award of the degrees subject to accreditation by the NUC and other relevant regulatory bodies.

The amendment also revises Section 8, which provides for the appointment and tenure of rectors in federal polytechnics.

Under the proposed provision, the polytechnic’s governing council shall appoint a rector for an initial term of five years, with eligibility for a second and final term of four years.

In addition, the amendment revises Section 31 to redefine a minister as an officer responsible for education.

Debate

When the amendment was recommitted to the Committee of the Whole for consideration, no senator opposed the proposed changes.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, then put the amended provisions to a voice vote, and most senators voted in favour.

The BSC/HND Dichotomy

The disparity between holders of Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degrees from universities and Higher National Diplomas (HNDs) from polytechnics has been controversial in Nigeria’s education system, particularly in employment, remuneration and career progression.

Although both qualifications are obtained from tertiary institutions, HND holders have historically faced restrictions in some public and private sector establishments, including differences in recruitment grades, promotion prospects and eligibility for certain positions. The disparity has persisted despite successive government policies aimed at addressing it.

In the federal civil service, a March 2018 circular from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation allowed HND holders to enter the service at Salary Grade Level 08. However, serving officers with HND qualifications must meet additional conditions under applicable schemes of service and public service rules to progress beyond Grade Level 14 or convert to the officer cadre.

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The distinction has also generated concerns about fairness and equal opportunities for graduates with different qualifications. In 2023, the House of Representatives raised concerns about alleged disparities in the promotion of HND and degree holders in the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, urging relevant authorities to comply with existing directives on the issue.

Successive administrations and the National Assembly have made efforts to address the problem through policy changes and legislative proposals. However, the continued debate over recruitment, promotion, and career progression suggests that policy pronouncements alone may not have fully resolved concerns about the treatment of HND holders.

Whether the amendment will significantly reduce discrimination against polytechnic graduates will depend partly on how the new degrees are recognised by employers and whether public service recruitment rules and schemes of service are reviewed to ensure fair treatment.