The Federal Government of Nigeria has mandated that Higher National Diploma (HND) holders must undergo a one-year mandatory training program before they can be converted from the Executive to Officers’ cadre. Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, made this announcement during a virtual meeting with civil servants.
Yemi-Esan explained that the difference in curriculum between HND and B.Sc. programs necessitates this mandatory training, as it ensures that HND graduates are adequately prepared for the responsibilities of an officer-level position.
The new policy aims to bridge the gap between HND and B.Sc. holders in the civil service and promote fairness and equity in the treatment of both groups. The one-year training program will serve as a means to equip HND graduates with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in their roles as officers within the Federal Civil Service.
PUNCH
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, has asked workers with Higher National Diploma to undergo one-year mandatory training before their conversion from Executive to Officers cadre.
According to a statement on Saturday, Yemi-Esan said this at a virtual interactive session with civil servants in commemoration of the 2024 Civil Service Week with the theme, “Educate an African Fit for the 21st Century: Building Resilient Education Systems for Increased Access to Inclusive, Life-long, Quality and Relevant Learning in Africa.”
The one-year mandatory training programme to bridge the gap between polytechnic awarded Higher National Diplomas and university degrees has been controversial between the National Universities Commission and the National Board for Technical Education.
A bill was passed at the Ninth National Assembly in 2021 to end the dichotomy but was not signed into law by the last administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Thus, NBTE, which regulates technical and vocational education, had to introduce what it describes as a one-year top-up programme which offers a platform for HND holders to level up towards obtaining a bachelor’s degree.
While fielding a question from one of the civil servants during the virtual meeting, Yemi-Esan, said, “The curriculum for HND and B.Sc holders were not the same, hence, HND graduates would have to undergo mandatory one-year training before conversion from Executive to Officers’ cadre.”
