HND holders threaten to down tools, lament discrimination

A coalition of holders of Higher National Diploma have threatened industrial action if government fails to implement a white paper detailing the removal of dichotomy on their career progression in public service in four weeks.

The coalition, comprising public servants, unions and students amongst others, says it will occupy the office of the Head of Service of the Federation, if its demands are not met in four weeks.

 “We are going to occupy that office until they do the needful because we will not continue to keep quiet and things will continue to go wrong,” Chris Isiquzo Ikechukwu, president of Nigerian Union of Journalists and a Visitor of International Institute of Journalists, told a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday.

He said having one group of workers enjoying their promotion in service and another group retarded, “is unacceptable to us.”

“We are not going to take this lying low; we are going to mobilize our students and members across Nigeria.”

The white paper has been nearly 14 years waiting to be implemented, said president of Higher National Diploma Holders Association of Nigeria (HNDHAN) Sabastine Onyemaobi

He added the wait continues to expose HND graduates to discrimination, stigmatization and undue stagnation.

He said HND holders do not progress above level 14 rather they are faced with demotion in cases where they try to rise above that, after acquiring PGD and Masters as required by the law.

He demanded that the HND certificate holders from accredited NBTE be recognized as approved by the white paper to progress to higher grades up to level 17.

While noting that their members are becoming restive and they may not be able to contain their agitation, he said promotion and progression in career if free and highly competitive and that HND holders should be given a level playing ground.

The coalition, however, appealed to the president to take this seriously and call the HoS to order because anything that affects a particular set of government affects the entire system.  (Daily Trust)