Dispute between HND Architecture, regulatory body adjourned to January 18

The case between Higher National Diploma (HND) graduates of Architecture in Nigeria and President of Architects Registration Council of Nigeria, Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON), Incorporated Trustees of Nigerian Institute of Architects, National Board of Technical Education and others at the Federal High Court, Ibadan has been fixed for hearing January 18, 2021.

At the last sitting, the first to fifth defendants were absent and were not represented by any counsel. The sixth defendant was absent but was represented.

Sometime in September 2020, the aggrieved HND graduates of Architecture in Nigeria filed a court action against ARCON and others for the discriminatory manner the Council and the Nigerian Institute of Architects treat polytechnic graduates of Architecture in Nigeria.

Counsel for the plaintiffs, Yinka Agboola, said ARCON discriminates against polytechnic graduates of Architecture, by denying them registration unlawfully even after some of the plaintiffs had passed the professional examinations conducted by the Nigerian Institute of Architects.

According to the counsel, all polytechnic graduates of Architecture in Nigeria are plaintiffs although a number of them have been voted to represent them before the court.

Over the years, ARCON had unlawfully denied the plaintiffs the opportunity to participate in the professional examinations conducted by the Council.

The Polytechnic, Ibadan, and the Federal University of Akure were sued in representative capacities for all polytechnics and universities offering architectural courses since these institutions produced the plaintiffs, some of whom have HND certificates and other higher education qualifications.