How govt frustrates workers with HND certificate

Though, the Higher National Diploma/ Bachelor of Degree (HND/BSc) dichotomy is still a strong challenge in the Nigerian civil service, there are indications that workers in Lagos State Civil Service Commission with HND are being double punished in their attempt to climb the ladder within the system.

It was gathered that many of them joined the civil service knowing they would not get to the pinnacle of their career with HND except they recalibrate with a university degree. Those who do not mind going through the recalibration efforts are either obstructed or punished in the process.

A staff, who pleaded anonymity, disclosed that she joined the service with HND and knowing that she has what it takes to get to the highest position available within the service: Her limitation being her HND certificate.

As a result, she decided to enroll for a Post Graduate Diploma. She added that when she applied to the appropriate ministry, Ministry of Establishment, Training and Pensions that she was ready for her master’s, as its approval is critical to the certificate being recognised when she presents it for promotion.

She said she went through harrowing experience before it was accepted. She said that at a point despite her master’s in a state owned university, the ministry claimed it did not recognise the certificate from the institution until the issue was taken to the ministry of education, before it was finally accepted.

“It was not easy getting approval even to do my master’s programme, which is the most important criteria to get my conversion accepted to move to the officers’ cadre in the Lagos State Civil Service.”

She further said that after the battles of getting the approval to do the master’s and getting the certificate accepted, she has not been fully recognised.

“Now, I have had my conversion interview since last quarter of 2023, I have not received a letter of approval almost 14 months after. There has not been any particular reason given for this delay.

“Another policy that is disturbing and still ahead is that, even if I get the approval letter tomorrow, after having spent five years as Chief Executive Officer, I will still have to wait for another three years before sitting for promotion exam to Grade Level 15.

“It is just an experience I don’t wish my children, and so, will never allow them go through the civil service let alone go to the polytechnic for their education.”

She maintained that it is not because she is a female or that someone wanted to take advantage of her as a female because the denial is not limited to her or females alone as many HND holders are going through the experience.

Another HND holder revealed that when he came in, he was admitted to level 7 while his friend was admitted to level 8.

He added that while his friend is on level 16 at present, he disclosed that he is still on level 14 hoping that he would soon be promoted to level 15 having gone ahead to get a university degree.

It was, however, learnt that when the immediate past Governor Akinwunmi Ambode came, he abolished all bottlenecks and the delays around the academic upgrade for HND holders, immediately he left, the bureaucratic bottlenecks were restored.

It was even gathered that many HND holders within the system out of frustration and unnecessary delay and denial usually would go ahead to do a bachelor’s degree or masters’ programme without approval from the ministry often had difficulty getting the certificate approved for their conversion to the officers’ cadre.

It was also learnt that the additional certificates of many HND holders who had done one university degree or the other were only accepted during the build up to the 2023 general elections as part of efforts to garner votes and sympathy for the ruling party by the state government. Attempt to get the state government to comment on the complaint as at press time was not successful. Both the ministry and the civil service commission were contacted but no response.