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The HND degree dichotomy and ministries

By Akinola Abiodun
05 September 2018   |   1:49 am
It is disheartening to know that an organisation under ministry controlled by the Federal Government could fail to implement the directives given by it after a year!

Sir: It is disheartening to know that an organisation under ministry controlled by the Federal Government could fail to implement the directives given by it after a year!

On July 11, 2017, a directive came from the Ministry of Interior saying: “The Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration and Prisons Board (CDFIPB), at the end of its meeting held on Tuesday, July 11, 2017, under the chairmanship of the Minister of Interior, Lt-Gen Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau (rtd), approved the regularisation of the dichotomy between holders of university degrees and Higher National Diploma (HND) in all the services. 

“To this end, the board directed that all officers with HND to be upgraded to Compass 08, which is the salary grade level for holders of degree certificates at entry point. While the nomenclature for the HND holders will start with the rank of senior inspector, the degree holders are with the rank of assistant superintendent II.”

The Nigeria Immigration Service and Prison have keyed in to the directives of the honourable minister in abolishing the dichotomy by upgrading its personnel involved. More so, officers who are in this category have received their salaries and other entitlement attached with their new rank since September 2017.

However, the management of NSCDC’s response to this morale boosting directive is worrisome, as those with HND at the point of entry into the corps are still wearing their old rank while their counterparts are enjoying the privileges and benefits.

We were held incommunicado as there were no cogent reasons given for the delay. Series of organs have been used by officers involved to press on their demands but the management seems unperturbed.

Worse still, the Ministry of Interior that is controlling the activities of the corps is like a toothless bull dog. Why is the delay for the implementation of a clear cut directive?

We are calling on the minister of Interior and all other relevant stakeholders to please wade into this as it will help a long way to boost the morale of the officers involved, thereby improving productivity.Sir, The Guardian is widely known for its support and timely reports of abuses and corruption in governmental agencies and I believe same will be done to this issue.
Akinola Abiodun.

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