ABUJA (Sundiata Post) – The Speaker, House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, on Thursday harped on the need to address the age long discrimination between HND and university degrees.
Abbas made the call while declaring open a public hearing on three bills by the House Committee on Federal Polytechnics and Higher Technical Education in Abuja.
Abbas, represented by the Chairman, House Committee on Electoral Reforms, Adebayo Balogun, said harmonisation of the certificate was imperative to address the institutional imbalance.
He said that the bill would go a long way in ensuring that graduates were assessed based on competence irrespective of university or polytechnics.
The Speaker expressed optimism that the amendment of the Polytechnics Act would embolden polytechnic graduates and place them on the same pedestal with university graduates.
Abbas affirmed the readiness of the House of Representatives to continue to advance Nigeria’s higher education for national development.
According to him, this hearing seeks to democratise access to skill acquisition and knowledge.
The Speaker, who reiterated the commitment of the House to national development, said the bill would engender solution providers.
He explained that the bills would go a long way in creating jobs for Nigeria’s teeming youths through skills acquisition and innovations.
He commended the sponsors of the bills as well as the committee for a work well done.
Earlier, the Chairman, House Committee on Federal Polytechnics and Higher Technical Education, Kayode Laguda, affirmed the desire of all to acquire knowledge and skills with the passage of the bills.
Laguda, who commended the speaker for a purposeful leadership, said the bills were aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s polytechnic and technical education system.
Contributing, one of the sponsors of the Bills, Usman Danladi, said that establishment of college of entrepreneurship was key to addressing insecurity especially in Borno.
Danladi expressed optimism that the college, if established, would promote local economic growth.
Reports that the three bills are: A Bill for an Act to Establish the Federal College of Entrepreneurship and Skills Acquisition, Hawul Local Government Area, Borno, to provide full-time courses, teaching instruction, and training in technology, applied sciences, arts, social sciences, humanities, and management; and for related matters (HB.1797).
A Bill for an Act to Amend Section 3(2)(b), Second Schedule, and Section 31 of the Federal Polytechnics Act, Cap F17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004; and for related matters (HB.1413).
A Bill for an Act to Amend the Federal Polytechnics Act, Cap F17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, to review the functions of polytechnics; and for related matters (HB.2114). (NAN)
