The National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) has requested President Bola Tinubu to sign a bill that would abolish and outlaw the dichotomy between Bachelor degree (BSc) and Higher National Diploma (HND).
On Wednesday, NAPS made the petition during a peaceful protest in Osogbo, Osun State, dubbed “Save Polytechnic Education Rally,” with the tagline “President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Should End HND/Bsc Dichotomy by May 29th, 2024.”
Protesters stormed the Osun State House of Assembly and marched in solidarity to the Government Secretariat in Abere, carrying placards with messages such as “President Asiwaju should assent the bill to abolish the HND/BSc dichotomy” and “Asiwaju should put a smile on Polytechnic Students,” among others.
Speaking at the rally, Temitope Adeniji, the NAPS Senate President, noted that having assented to may bills, President Bola Tinubu should consider the HND/BSc dichotomy bill, which had already been passed by the 9th Assembly.
He said, “We are here today to send a signal to our father, President Tinubu, to put in the Presidential Signature to this Bill and End HND/BSc Dichotomy before May 29th 2024.
“We observed that the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria has been assenting many bills, but HND/Bsc dichotomy act hasn’t been attend to.
“Polytechnic students and graduates are one of the major groups that support this Government, we shouldn’t be treated like an outcast in our Nation, this HND/Bse Dichotomy has rendered many polytechnic graduates as second class citizens and causing a lot of discouragement to the upcoming generation who has intention to attend Polytechnic in Nigeria.”
While addressing the protesters at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Kola Adewusi, the Deputy Governor of the State, commended the students for comporting themselves in a peaceful and organized manner, adding that their demand had been heard and through Governor Ademola Adeleke, necessary steps would be taken to address their demand.
“I want to commended the way and manner in which this protest is being organized, it shows a level of understanding and maturity. It sends a signal that grievances can be shown without violence.
“About your demand, I want to assure you that the Governor will table this at the NEC meeting with the President and also our Representatives at the National Assembly will also assist in the course, So you have nothing to be afraid of”, he said.