Federal Government Moves to Scrap HND Dichotomy, Set to Grant Degree Status to Polytechnics
The Federal Government has announced a major policy shift aimed at ending the long-standing disparity between Higher National Diploma (HND) and university degree holders in Nigeria. Under the new reform, polytechnics across the country will be empowered to award degree qualifications, a move expected to finally eliminate the controversial HND–BSc dichotomy.
The development was disclosed on Wednesday in Abuja by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who described the reform as a strategic step toward repositioning technical and vocational education as a cornerstone of national growth. According to the minister, the policy is designed to unlock the full potential of polytechnic education and ensure graduates are assessed based on skills and competence rather than certificate labels.
For decades, HND holders have faced systemic barriers in the workplace, including limited career progression, restricted access to top management positions, and unequal treatment in the civil service. The proposed reform seeks to correct these imbalances by placing polytechnic graduates on equal academic and professional footing with their university counterparts.
The initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s broader education and economic agenda, which prioritizes innovation, technical capacity, and skills development in areas such as renewable energy, digital manufacturing, and emerging technologies. Government officials say strengthening polytechnic education is critical to building a workforce capable of driving industrialization and sustainable development.
While similar promises to address the HND–BSc divide have been made since the 1970s, many failed to translate into concrete action. This history has fueled skepticism among polytechnic students and alumni, who remain cautious but hopeful that the current administration will follow through with effective implementation.
If successfully executed, the reform could mark a turning point for Nigeria’s technical education sector, restore confidence in polytechnic institutions, and open up new career opportunities for millions of graduates nationwide.