www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art2010031936184

There was drama at the House of Representatives on Thursday as lawmakers kicked against the adoption of Second Class (Lower Division) degree as the minimum requirement for recruitment by most government establishments in the country.


A majority decision by the House opposed the practice saying that it was discriminatory.


A motion by the Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), Mr. Clever Ikisikpo, which the House endorsed, stated that the practice denied job seekers with third class and pass degrees and other lower academic qualifications employment opportunities.


The House, therefore, asked government establishments to lower the bar on qualifications to enable holders of Third Class and Pass degrees get similar employment opportunities as those with higher qualifications.


Ikisikpo had claimed that higher academic qualifications did not necessarily guarantee excellence in the work place.


He told the House that there had been instances where employees with first class and second class degrees depended on their subordinates to perform their duties because they were deficient.


He cited the case of a lady who was denied employment by the Federal Character Commission in spite of coming tops in an aptitude test on the excuse that she held a third class degree.


Mr. John Enoh, a former lecturer, backed Ikisikpo, arguing that those “with the best degrees are not always the best in the work place.”


Enoh added, “Every government agency should employ people on the basis of their ability to do the job and not paper qualification.”


Mr. Festus Adegoke complained that due to the discriminatory practices by employers, many employable hands were roaming the streets daily without jobs.


However, there was opposition to the motion by the Minority Leader of the House, Mr. Mohammed Ndume, who warned that the lawmakers were setting a dangerous precedent by endorsing such a motion.


Ndume noted that accepting lower academic qualifications could discourage hard work by students.


He told the House that many students strove to attain academic excellence, a reason they sacrificed a lot to pass their examinations in higher grades.


Ndume insisted that those who got Third Class and Pass degrees did so because that was what they aimed at.


He said there was no justification for penalising those with higher qualifications just to accommodate holders of third class degrees.


Another lawmaker, Mr. Kayode Idowu, also opposed the motion, warning that lowering standards could discourage competition in school.


Incidentally, there were students from some secondary schools who observed the sitting of the House on Thursday.


The Speaker, Mr. Dimeji Bankole, ruled in favour of the motion in a majority voice vote.

Where are the fucking jobs?

Employers dont need government edicts to determine who to ignore.

If you had read the article well, you will see that they are referring to employment in govt establishments

hollandis:

www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art2010031936184

There was drama at the House of Representatives on Thursday as lawmakers kicked against the adoption of Second Class (Lower Division) degree as the minimum requirement for recruitment by most government establishments in the country.