Reps Moves to Abolish HND, Introduces B.Tech in Polytechnics

The House of Representatives has taken a decisive step toward eliminating the long-standing disparity between Bachelor’s and Higher National Diploma (HND) qualifications by passing a bill for the second reading.

The proposed amendment to the Federal Polytechnics Act, approved on Tuesday, seeks to grant polytechnics the authority to confer Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) degrees instead of HNDs. Additionally, the bill aims to raise the qualification criteria for appointing Rectors in federal polytechnics.

The legislation is championed by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen and Fuad Laguda, Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Polytechnics and Higher Technical Education. If enacted, it will not only address the long-debated BSc/HND inequality but also set higher academic benchmarks for polytechnic leadership.

Leading the debate on the amendment, Laguda described the Federal Polytechnics Act as the legal foundation for establishing polytechnics across Nigeria, ensuring they provide full-time education in technology, applied sciences, and management. He noted that a 2019 revision of the Act had already extended the retirement age of polytechnic staff and standardized the tenure of Rectors and other key officials.

According to him, the current amendment seeks to align the Act with global best practices by modernizing polytechnic education in Nigeria.

“This bill seeks to expand the membership of the governing council by including representatives from technical bodies such as the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN),” Laguda stated. “It also aims to strengthen the administrative structure of federal polytechnics for better functionality.”

Among its key provisions, Clause 2 of the bill proposes expanding the governing council of polytechnics to include representatives from NBTE and MAN. Clause 3 seeks to increase the minimum academic qualifications for candidates aspiring to the position of Rector in federal polytechnics. Clause 4 empowers the Academic Board to confer B.Tech degrees, marking a significant shift from the current HND system.

Speaker Abbas Tajudeen emphasized that the reform stems from the National Board for Technical Education’s efforts to eliminate the discrimination between BSc and HND holders. He explained that under the proposed law, polytechnics will award B.Tech degrees instead of HNDs, and future Rectors will be required to hold a PhD.

However, he clarified that the reform would not affect the issuance of Ordinary National Diplomas (ONDs), which will remain in place to address the need for lower-level technical manpower.