"HND HOLDERS CAN'T RAISE ABOVE GRADE LEVEL 14" HYPOCRISY OF THE HIGHEST ORDER- NAPS

Therefore leadership of the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) under the able leadership of Comrade Mohammed Eneji frowns at the statement credited to The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF), Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita last week Thursday about the council's decision on the dichotomy between BSc and HND.

The statement is hypocritical and unacceptable as we have hoped that the decision taken at the last National Council for Establishment's resolution and recommendations will be implemented. We have also expected that the same qualification that equates their entry level into the civil service should also be applicable to them at the highest level. It came to us as a shock to realize that HND Graduate who enters into the service at the same level with his/her university counterpart cannot rise above level 14 while the other from the university can.

In as much as it has been established that the O'level requirements into both a polytechnic and University are same and the recent entry policy that covers all cadres, it is therefore unfair and discriminatory for HND holders be required to acquire additional relevant qualification before they can rise above level 14 in the civil service. It is either the service allows us enjoy same privileges as the BSc holders or scrap the name 'HND' and replace it with other suitable nomenclature. This is a new campaign which shall commence soon and will be held in the six geopolitical zones of the country and FCT where our students both old and undergraduate will be faced with the challenge of whether to continue to hold on to our HND certificates and be respected for it or begin a fresh agitation to convert our institutions to degree awarding institutions.

We cannot afford to continue to be treated as second class citizens in a developing country such as Nigeria where the Polytechnic Certificate is suppose to be accorded more respect above any other certificate.

Comrade Mohammed Eneji, the
NAPS President with this number
08130482814 on behalf of NAPS hereby call on well meaning Polytechnic graduates and students to rise and save our certificate by supporting the campaign.

Aluta Continua! Victoria Ascerta!!