HND holders must undergo one-year mandatory training- FG | #NwokeukwuMascot
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…HND Holders Required to Undergo One-Year Mandatory Training - FG | #NwokeukwuMascot
Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan |
The Federal Government has mandated that workers holding Higher National Diplomas (HND) must complete a one-year training program before their conversion from the Executive to Officers cadre. This announcement was made by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, during a virtual interactive session with civil servants, in line with the 2024 Civil Service Week theme: “Educate an African Fit for the 21st Century: Building Resilient Education Systems for Increased Access to Inclusive, Life-long, Quality and Relevant Learning in Africa.”
Dr. Yemi-Esan explained that the training aims to bridge the educational gap between polytechnic-awarded HNDs and university degrees. The issue has sparked debate between the National Universities Commission and the National Board for Technical Education. In 2021, the Ninth National Assembly passed a bill to end this dichotomy, but it was not signed into law by the then-President Muhammadu Buhari. Consequently, the NBTE introduced a one-year top-up program enabling HND holders to advance towards obtaining a bachelor's degree.
During the session, Adebayo Hassan, a civil servant on Grade Level 14, inquired about the persistent disparity between B.Sc and HND holders within the Civil Service and the government's efforts to address it. Responding to the query, Dr. Yemi-Esan emphasized that due to differences in the curriculum, HND graduates must undergo mandatory training to qualify for conversion.
Highlighting the 2024 Civil Service Week theme, Dr. Yemi-Esan stressed the importance of making education accessible, inclusive, high-quality, and relevant to modern world demands. She noted the Nigerian Civil Service's efforts in leveraging learning and development to enhance workforce capacity, aligning with national priorities.
Dr. Yemi-Esan also discussed the adoption of a Performance Management System (PMS) by the Nigerian Civil Service to meet the demands of an evolving work environment. She revealed that PMS Policy and Guidelines have been disseminated across all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), with core implementation teams established. Permanent Secretaries will drive the implementation, ensuring performance contracts extend to every officer in each MDA.
This system will measure individual performance based on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), linking personal goals to departmental, ministerial, and national objectives.
Moreover, Dr. Yemi-Esan highlighted the digital transformation within the Civil Service, noting the complete digitalization of personal and policy files and the implementation of digital transaction workflows. Official correspondences, including memos and circulars, are now processed electronically through the Enterprise Content Management solution, marking a significant step in modernizing civil service operations.
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