According to Vanguard, holders of Higher National Diplomas (HND) will now be eligible for employment as lecturers under the newly approved Schemes of Service for polytechnics. This significant change was announced by Professor Idris Mohammed Bugaje, the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), during the formal presentation of the new scheme on Wednesday.
Prof. Bugaje, speaking to stakeholders at the event, revealed that the updated Schemes of Service were approved by the Head of Service, Dr. Mrs. Folasade Yemi-Esan, and officially became operational on June 7, 2024. This update marks the end of the Instructor cadre, which had previously limited the career progression of HND holders compared to their degree-holding counterparts.
“From 7th June, 2024, 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),” Prof. Bugaje stated. He emphasized the decade-long struggle and collaborative efforts from various stakeholders, including staff unions and rectors, which culminated in this milestone.
The new Schemes of Service present a unified approach to the recruitment and promotion of staff across all Nigerian polytechnics, regardless of whether they are federal, state, or privately owned. Prof. Bugaje highlighted the comprehensive nature of the reforms, which aim to harmonize employment standards and advance the recognition of polytechnic qualifications.
“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,” he added.
Reflecting on his tenure and the achievements made, Prof. Bugaje noted, “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.”…..Sée Móre
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