By Polycarp Onwubiko
Graduates of Higher National
Diploma (HND) and well informed Nigerians had thought that this apparent
splitting of hairs on the holders of university Degree and HND has been laid
to rest by the Obasanjo Administration who , having examined the course
contents in the departments of the university and polytechnic directed that
there should no longer be discrimination in the public service pertaining to
conversion and promotion of the holders of university degree and polytechnic
certificate particularly in the Administrative positions in the public service.
Having had a career in the
administration, I am in the position to say that there is no distinction
between the assignment of office duties between the university degree holders
and HND certificate holders who did course in Business Management or Public
Administration. These two categories of civil servants in the administration
department are given the same assignment and they perform creditably.
In the light of the above
information, it becomes perplexing that the Head of the Civil Service of the
Federation (HCSF) should be speaking outlandish English language which amounts
to unnecessary splitting of hairs urging the civil servants in the
administration department to undergo the so-called "one year mandatory
training before their conversion from Executive to Officers cadre".
Such outright nonsense has all
along been carried out by the Administrative staff college of Nigeria Badagry,
ASCON where they shamelessly extort public servants by compelling holders of
Degree in Public Administration and Mass Communication, etc to take one and
half hour examination to qualify for conversion to the supposed "Superior
Cadres" called "Administrative Officers Cadre" and "Information
officers cadre" . I think the brazen-faced extortion is still in practice.
ASCON has been raking million and awarding the staff humongous salaries and
allowances which are far more than the salaries and allowances of ordinary
public servants both in the federal and state civil service.
President Tinubu should direct
the Head of the civil service of the Federation to with her directive and
abolish the uncalled for discrimination between the holders of university
degree and HND especially those who make career in the administration
department of both the federal and state governments civil service.
Polycarp Onwubiko, political
analyst, writes from Awka, Anambra State
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