BSc/HND Divide Fuels Frustration in Civil Service as Reform Bill Stalls

Tension is mounting within Nigeria’s civil service as Higher National Diploma (HND) holders continue to express dissatisfaction over what they describe as an entrenched career imbalance that limits their growth and progression compared to Bachelor’s degree holders.

Reports indicate that in many government agencies, staff employed with HND qualifications are typically placed on the executive cadre, while their B.Sc counterparts are automatically assigned to the officer cadre—creating an early structural divide that influences career advancement throughout service.

Affected workers say the disparity has serious long-term consequences for promotions and professional development. A civil servant at the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), who spoke anonymously, said the system often negates efforts by HND holders to advance academically or reposition their career paths.

According to the source, even when HND holders obtain higher qualifications such as a Master’s degree before reaching Grade Level 09, transitioning into the officer cadre does not necessarily erase their earlier career trajectory.

The situation becomes more restrictive at senior levels. The source explained that once an officer attains the rank of Chief on Grade Level 13, any attempt to switch cadres results in a downgrade to Assistant Chief on Grade Level 12, followed by another mandatory waiting period before promotion. This, they said, often leaves affected workers stuck behind younger colleagues who entered through the officer cadre.

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“This structure is discouraging and makes many lose motivation,” the source noted.

The disparity has persisted despite legislative intervention. In 2021, the Senate passed a bill seeking to eliminate discrimination between HND and university degree holders in public service, but it was never signed into law before the end of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure in 2023.

As a result, the divide remains in place across ministries, departments, and agencies, with HND holders often capped at Grade Level 14, while B.Sc graduates can progress up to Grade Level 17—the highest level in the civil service hierarchy.

Institutions such as the National Universities Commission (NUC) and TETFund are among those affected, with staff members reportedly confirming ongoing dissatisfaction over the unresolved policy gap.

The continued imbalance, workers say, is affecting morale and productivity, as many skilled employees feel trapped in a system they consider unfair. Despite repeated calls for reform, no decisive government action has yet been taken to harmonise the structure and address the long-standing divide.