HND Holders Can Now Be Employed As Lecturers In Polytechnics - Says NBTE Boss

Holders of Higher National Diploma  (HND) certificates can now be employed as lecturers in the polytechnics under the new schemes of service, the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Prof. Idris Mohammed Bugaje has stated 

The NBTE boss was speaking in Kaduna on Wednesday during the formal presentation of the new Schemes of Service to the Polytechnics stakeholders, as approved by the Head of Service, Dr. Mrs Folasade Yemi-Esan.

Bugaje explained that  under the new schemes, the Instructor cadre which represents segregation against HND holders in the past has been abolished.

The new Schemes of Service which became operational from June 7, 2024 according to him, presents a unified approach to the recruitment and promotion of staff across Nigerian Polytechnics, Federal, State, and even private.

“From 7th June, 20024, all previous versions of the Schemes of Service, cease to become legal tender. We are all united from now onwards to operate the new Schemes of Service in the Nigerian Polytechnic System (NPS).”

“This milestone has taken over a decade of struggle and efforts by our Staff Unions, Rectors of Polytechnics through their COHEADS/COFER bodies, the Federal Ministry of Education, and the NBTE. I must commend all of you for all your contributions and pray that we shall operationalize the new Schemes of Service with all sense of responsibility.”

“When I took office in April 2021, I announced my 3-S Agenda as my key areas of focus as Executive Secretary, namely the Skills development agenda, the Spirit of work in the NBTE which must be revived and a new Scheme of service that gives recognition to the products of the Nigerian Polytechnic System. With gratitude to Allah, the Most High, I am glad to announce that, working with you as a team, we have been able to achieve all the three within 3 years.”

“Schemes of Service cannot be said to be perfect, since it is man-made, and could still be subject to future reviews. But we are happy with the new Schemes for the following innovations: HND Holders with good grades are now to be appointed as Academic Staff (Graduate Assistants), like their degree counterparts, in a system that is theirs.”

“The Instructor cadre which represents segregation against HND holders in the past has been abolished. The Technician cadre has been subsumed by the Technologist cadre, allowing ND holders to be appointed as Assistant Technologists.”, he clarified