The Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu has initiated steps to phase out the Higher National Diploma (HND) qualification and empower polytechnics across the country to award bachelor’s degrees, in a major reform aimed at ending long-standing discrimination against polytechnic graduates.
The proposed reform, championed by education authorities and backed by ongoing legislative efforts, seeks to eliminate the academic and professional dichotomy between HND holders and university degree graduates. Under the plan, polytechnics would transition from the HND system to awarding Bachelor of Technology–type degrees with a strong emphasis on practical and technical skills.
Officials involved in the reform argue that the current HND framework has unfairly limited career progression for polytechnic graduates, particularly in the public service, where HND holders are often barred from advancing beyond certain grade levels despite possessing comparable competencies to university graduates.
Supporters of the initiative say granting degree-awarding status to polytechnics will strengthen technical education, improve graduate employability, and align Nigeria’s system with global best practices, noting that similar institutions in countries such as South Africa and Ghana already award degrees.
The move is expected to require amendments to existing education laws and regulatory frameworks, with the National Assembly playing a key role in determining the scope and timeline of implementation.
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