President of Association of Private Polytechnics in Nigeria, Dr Benjamin Achiatar
The Association of Private Polytechnics in Nigeria (APPN) has called on President Bola Tinubu to initiate a bill aimed at abolishing the long-standing disparity between Higher National Diploma (HND) and Bachelor’s degree (BSc) holders.
Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday, the association’s president, Dr. Benjamin Achiatar, emphasized that despite the National Council on Establishment’s decision to remove the distinction, poor implementation persists due to a lack of legal backing.
Achiatar explained that while a bill addressing this issue was passed by the 9th Senate, it was not signed into law by the previous administration. He urged the 10th National Assembly to either revisit the earlier bill or introduce a new one for President Tinubu’s approval.
“The absence of legal enforcement means that government agencies still favor BSc holders over their HND counterparts in employment and promotions,” Achiatar stated.
He warned that the continued discrimination against HND holders has led to a sharp decline in polytechnic applications, citing records from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
As a result, many Nigerian students are opting to study in neighboring countries such as Benin Republic, Togo, and Ghana, causing brain drain and negatively impacting the country’s technological development.
The association has also requested additional JAMB centers to accommodate polytechnic applicants effectively.
Achiatar, who also owns Gboko Polytechnic, highlighted the vital role of technical and technological education in Nigeria’s industrialization.
“We train students in both theory and practical applications, which distinguishes polytechnics from universities. However, the lack of government support is discouraging young people from pursuing careers in technical fields,” he said.
He urged the federal government to prioritize technical and technological education, arguing that a decline in polytechnic enrollment affects national economic growth.
Achiatar also voiced support for the conversion of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) into a commission, as recommended by polytechnic governing councils.
According to him, upgrading NBTE would enable it to collaborate with the National Universities Commission (NUC) to accredit polytechnics for Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech Hons) degrees.
“This move would attract more students to polytechnics and enhance the credibility of technology-based education in Nigeria,” he added.
The association reaffirmed its commitment to advocating for policies that would bridge the HND-BSc divide and promote the growth of technical education in the country.