FG gives update on HND/BSc dichotomy in civil service

Winifred Oyo-Ita

The Federal Government has said the controversial dichotomy in the placement of HND and Degree holders in the federal civil service cadres has not been abolished.

This is despite wide held belief that the dichotomy has been abolished and the holders of the two certificates would henceforth enjoy same privileges.

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF), Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, disclosed this yesterday at a press conference attended by DAILY POST in Abuja, where she presented her three-year scorecard.

According to her, Nigerians have grossly misunderstood the pronouncement made by the Federal Executive Council on the controversial HND and BSc dichotomy.

She said the government have not completely resolved the dichotomy, as workers who holds HND in the civil service may have to get additional degree or certificate before they can be moved to level 17 like their University degrees counterparts.

“I think the issue of this HND and BSC Dichotomy came up at the last Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting. It is something a lot of people are still confused about and it should not be so.

“What was approved at FEC is that henceforth HND graduate who entered at the same level as degree holders will be on the same level at entry point in the civil service.

“The issue of where they stop will still remain at Grade Level 14 unless they are able to acquire additional relevant degrees that can now covert them to officer cadre. We have explained this severally, but when people hear that BSC–HND dichotomy has been cancelled, everyone was jumping for joy as if it is automatically that HND will get up to Grade Level 17 in the public service.

“The issue still remains that HND still have to convert after having acquired relevant degrees, to the officer grade,” Oyo-Ita said.

She also said that the Federal Government has completed 1,310 housing units under the Federal Integrated Staff Housing (FISH) programme.

According to her, while 9,503 additional units are still under construction, 345 units have been allocated to civil servants in Abuja.

She added that while a total 30 off-takers of the FISH have been handed over keys to their housing units, only 17 have actually moved in with their families.