₦airaland Forum

, that one attends polytechnic make the society look at you like somebody without brain, etc.

No way for polytechnics anymore

Correct , think that things will change naturally, but Close all polytechnic. Tell people not to buy Poly JAMB Form.

No o we can not be like niger delta o

Thisday paper quoted`` Mere pronouncement can not change such a policy,'' Nwoha stressed, adding that the HND education policy was made to meet a particular manpower need of the country and should not be dropped if the need had not been met.

Fafunwa, Others Hail FG over HND, Varsity Degree Parity

Former Minister of Education, Prof. Babs Fafunwa has lauded President Olusegun Obasanjo for abolishing the dichotomy between HND and University degree holders.
Fafunwa, also a former university Vice Chancellor gave the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Friday.
According to him, the government's bold move would encourage HND holders to put in their best in the nation's development.
NAN recalls that Obasanjo had on Thursday in Abuja during a meeting with stakeholders in education sector pronounced that HND holders should be allowed to go beyond Grade Level 14 like their university counterparts.
Fafunwa said that he had been calling for the removal of the disparity between HND holders and  degree holders even before he became a minister.
Each person's ability should determine where he gets to and not the certificate, the former Minister said, adding that the system would now be more open to all to have a career.
Fafunwa urged universities to toe government step by not subjecting HND holders to post graduate diploma courses before they could be allowed to enrol for Master's degree programmes.
He also called on the universities to grant Ordinary National Diploma (OND) holders direct admission for their various programmes.
An HND holder, Mr Tony Nezianya, said that the disparity was unnecessary, pointing out that the one year compulsory industrial training for OND holders before they proceeded to do HND programmes had made up for whatever shortcomings.
“The HND addresses a special manpower need of the country and the government should provide the necessary encouragement for holders to offer their best,” Nezianya said.
Miss Jenniffer Mbonu, a degree holder said the removal of the ``barrier '' would compensate HND holders for their excellence in the application of technical knowledge.
`` The HND holders have more practical knowledge than degree holders,'' she argued.
Mbonu, however, advised that the minimum entry requirements into both the universities and the polytechnics be harmonised ``so that the degree holders will not be cheated.''
However, Messrs Silas Nwoha, Moses Edhosa and Mrs Cecilia Adepoju said that President was hasty in making the pronouncement.
They are of the opinion that government should have set up a committee to re-appraise the education policy as it affected  HND, pointing that  the president's pronouncement should have been based on the recommendation of such a committee.
`` Mere pronouncement can not change such a policy,'' Nwoha stressed, adding that the HND education policy was made to meet a particular manpower need of the country and should not be dropped if the need had not been met.

Souce: Thisday Newspaper

To all Nigerian we the victim of Poly which to appeal to all that Polytechnic education that came with the OYINBOs is out dated. Regards

Do away with the polytechnics. British old thing.

Which year, which course which school. Remember that Nigeria of today parades more university. we equally have brain drain. Prof. need to be your supervisor, and they are very few in electrical/electronics. Nigeria produce more elec/elec than any other engineering, that is the problem to select few put those with 2.2 at the disadvantage. You need to use LONG LEGS men.

''The Nigeria society will only lost its value if certificate is all that matters. It is ironical to note that Ted Turner and Bill Gate would have lost an opportunity if they had been a Nigerian''.

True even white paper to back up the removal of discrimination may not see the light of the day.

Is Polytechnic Education Going into Extinction?

By

Ayara Dennis Omeiza

Stden2003@yahoo.com



On the 19th of August 2005, Professor Bello Salim, the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) henchman lamented the poor registration of people into the Monotechnic, College of Education and Polytechnic JAMB examination that was to be held on the 20th of August 2005. The man looked worried and confused at the low turn out, his worries were that only an incredible number of 150,000 candidate registered for the examination, while a good number of the aforementioned number registered late. This to me is expected because it underscores the lack of interest and apat hy that prevails among youths seeking for admission. The youths cannot be blamed for not seeking polytechnic education since the society now under plays its value.



The societal dislike is influenced by governmental decision that places more emphasis on university degree (Bachelor) rather than university education, they place higher premium on university holder thereby relegating holders of Higher National Diploma (HND) to an infidel in the academic world. This dichotomy between a university degree (Bachelor) and a Polytechnic Diploma (HND) goes beyond the ordinary, while holders of Higher National Diploma who spent more years in the pursuant of this certificate is demoralize with comments from employers of labor who often time does not even include HND certificate as a prerequisite for the vacancies placed. The government on the other side who is supposed to be an un-bias umpire now pursues an agenda of alienation and exclusion of HND holders in her employment drive. This unwritten understanding was confirmed by the recent advertisement by Federal Character Commission, which advertised 1000 jobs. The commission made it clear that only Bachelor holders with first class and 2.1 in some courses are only eligible, this however leaves the HND holders bemoan thier fate.



The recent pronunciation by our Humorous President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo that students of Mass Communication and Sociology may be allocated permanent residence in the already saturated labour market because they are uneducated and lack basic skills shows that those saddled with leadership responsibilities lacked the psychology of human feelings. The President may have forgotten the role played by media in the Abacha`s regime when he was jailed for a phantom coup. The relevance of both fields cannot be over-emphasied in our today’s world; ironically, the President has passed his verdict on these noble professions.



My personal philosophy in life is that “what you have count less but what you do with what you have is what gives a man a pat in the back” I equally have a firm believe in the dictum that says “ what people call you is less significant but what you call your self is all that matters”. Thus, the low rating of HND holders would not have been a stumbling block to the holders, but, the near absence of their inclusion in the advertised vacancies is the real problem that plagued them. The absence of competition from students in these institutions is a killer sword that tilt the battle of securing a job in favour of a university graduate.



The dearth of a level playing field in the labour market has really helped to re-classify graduates from polytechnic as a pseudo graduate. Certificate rather than what one can do has suddenly became the deciding factor, thus, less attention is given to function while more attention goes to status. A good number cannot really practice their trade, though the fault is not theirs but on the system that engaged in crash study to make up for time spent on one form of strike or the other.



It is not a misnomer therefore, if a loving father does not want his child to go for a polytechnic education because the society only recognize a university certificate, which has led to the diabolic act of examination mal-practice to strive, the parents engages the services of any body to ensure the admission of his or her child in to any university. He proudly does that because he is part of the society and would want his cherished child to be a policyholder.



Incidentally, universities and other higher institutions are grossly under-funded by the government and the numbers of existing universities are scarcely inadequate to cater for millions of youths who wish to be admitted, this leave the society and the candidate in a dicey state. There willt be a system crash if everybody sought and get university admission, funny enough, the admission often than not goes to the highest bidders as there exist an insignificant number of universities in the country couple with poor funding.



The polariasation will destroy the system and increase examination mal-practice, it will certainly create a large army of unemployment and uneducated youths which will serve some selfish politicians at the detriment of the people. Armed robbery will be on the increase because the existing university cannot admit them. Ironically, our higher institution has become a place for “social” re-alignment and a training ground for cultist as evidenced in some institution across the country.



With the President’s Fatwa on Mass Communication and Sociology students, the existing

Institution must be prepared for an unprecedented rush into the engineering department, suffice it to say that such a rush will not be to the advantage of the country and the department, because a man cannot have an outstanding result in any thing he has little understanding on. Unfortunately, those who will engage in this rush are not doing it for the interest or love they have for it but to assuage the public.



Lest am miss-understood, university education is a must in our competitive world but our Polytechnic must not die in the hands of those in authorities. They (polytechnics) are supposed to play a complimentary role in our(society) bid to transform the country. If tertiary education is be properly funded, a graduate can create value on any field.



The Nigeria society will only lost its value if certificate is all that matters. It is ironical to note that Ted Turner and Bill Gate would have lost an opportunity if they had been a Nigerian.

Ayara Dennis Omeiza

Stden2003@yahoo.com

Yes that is possible in your university where you graduated. Beacause they are sure of your ability. It is also possible in other university with availability of supervisors. This man want OAU. or Unilag. only very few Nigerian can boast of PAPERS in journals as electrical or electronic engineers on like sociology and economics where Nigerian professors are made.Thesis supervisors are very few in engineering generally.

Masters Academic is for lecturers to be. Go to the school and find out. On Paper value you look qualified but how many applied from other schools and the availability of lecturers at Prof level, is another factor. But the University of Technologies with a political aid may get you a master degree.

It depends on the school , the research topic and availability of supervisors

You must be joking if you think of unilag or oau. but depends on the discipline. You can get Professional masters easily not academic masters. Please tell us your field.

I graduated in 1987 HND and reporting to 1995 university graduate. you see. They should just remove poly from Nigeria. It should not be alternative to UME

My brother is better they close down all polytechnics in Nigeria and create more private  universities

You need to read this [i]A Perspective On The Discrimination Against Nigerian HND Holders[i][/i]By[/i]Christian Dimkpa

Germany

Dimkpa@uni-jena.de



At present, the average Nigerian graduate, be they of the university or the polytechnic hue, is largely poorly trained and therefore ill equipped to face life’s dynamic realities. On a visit to Nigeria last summer, one of my former lecturers at the Michael Okpara College of Agriculture (MOCA), Owerri Imo State, during a discussion, concluded that the last set of motivated and serious students of his college graduated in 1998. I agreed with him not because I was of that set, but because my HND research project attests to that. However, I remembered that this same lecturer, like several of his peers, rather than engage the students in rigorous academic work, sold plagiarised hand-outs to us like no man’s business. This brings me to the recent directive from President Obasanjo, aimed at ending the discrimination between HND and BSc graduates. Whether employers of labour are heeding this directive or not, is another story. But, tell me, what is there to discriminate against when both qualifications (as obtained from Nigeria in recent times) reek of mediocrity? The truth is, like his BSc counterpart, the present Nigerian HND graduate is a lazy, dependent fellow who would not take his destiny in his hands. Many students attend polytechnics for several reasons. For me, but also, am sure, for many ND students, being from just an average-resource base family, undertaking an ND program was a form of security, since the later is of shorter duration, and there is no guaranteed funding for the longer BSc program. It was reasoned that in the event of loss of sponsorship (from death or loss of job by the sponsor); one can pause after the ND, work for a while and then continue with higher studies. For the much longer BSc program, loss of sponsorship midway could see the individual involved back to school certificate level. Would you blame anyone for reasoning this way? I wouldn’t; with poverty so palpable in Nigeria.
Although I was fully aware of the discrimination phenomenon, I did not let it be a road-block to my ambition. If you will permit, a brief delve into my career might help to buttress this point. I use to hold (of course, I still hold) a National Diploma (ND) and a HND in Crop Production, both from relatively non-renown higher institutions in Nigeria. However, it is instructive that today, I am pursuing a PhD program at one of the prestigious Max Planck institutes in Germany (best research institute in Europe and eight best globally), and this is in an innovative field of study that perhaps, may never be conducted in any Nigerian university many years from now. This is after obtaining an International MSc degree in Belgium from a university that is listed among the first 300 globally. Note that no Nigerian university is in the first 500, and in the newspaper recently, one Nigerian stakeholder lamented that even if the ranking is extended to the first 5000 best universities, Nigerian universities would still not make the list.
After my HND studies in 1998, I worked with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Ibadan, as a Research Assistant. During the interview for that position, several BSc graduate applicants from ‘well-known’ universities such as UI, UniLag, OAU-Ile Ife, among others, were interviewed as well, but the big university names associated with those individuals did not save them from relegation, as they say in football parlance. What I am emphasising here is that it is the intellectual quality of the individual, not the institution attended, that often matters. If you know IITA, then you will agree with me that when it comes to staff recruitment, personal merit is the watchword, not merely possessing a HND or BSc degree.
Afterwards, I applied for graduate studies at the Federal University of Agriculture in Abeokuta (UNAAB). Surprisingly or not, I was not considered suitable for admission either because of my HND (upper credit), or because I do not come from that part of Nigeria (remember that tribalism is another serious scourge in Nigeria). But that is by the way. Nevertheless, I did not relent in my desire to attain the highest academic level possible, so that in spite of possessing a HND and the unexplained rejection by UNAAB, and thanks to hundreds of internet hours, I soon obtained a full scholarship from the Belgian inter-university council (www.vlir.be) in 2003, to study Molecular Biology (Plant Biotechnology) in that country. When I arrived in Belgium for the MSc program, I found out that of 241 Nigerians who applied for scholarship for the course, I was the only one admitted. Remember, I held a HND, not the ‘almighty’ BSc. The curious mind that I am, I inquired more about the unsuccessful Nigerian applicants and behold, they were mostly university graduates (again from UI, UniLag, OAU, UNN, UniPort, etc). Of course, two other students of The Polytechnic Ibadan were also admitted but for a different MSc course. That polytechnic offers only HND and not BSc programs. Such is the power of the individual merit. I have since acquitted myself very well in the Belgian MSc program; hence I was admitted, again on full fellowship, to one of the International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS) of the Max Planck society in Germany (http://www.mpg.de/english and also (http://www.ice.mpg.de) , to study beneficial plant-microbe interaction using modern biotechniques, including proteomics and metabolomics. The other Nigerian scholars, formerly holding HNDs, have since undertaken different higher pursuits here in Europe. This narrative does not by any means attempt to denigrate Nigerian BSc graduates or the universities from which they graduated, but rather to de-emphasise the entrenched segregation. There is even a dichotomy between federal and state university graduates. Wonders shall never end, in Nigeria! From my experience, it can be seen that the senseless HND-BSc dichotomy should have no place in the mind of any serious-minded Nigerian graduate. After all, the HND is fully recognised in the UK and have several equivalents in other European countries. What then is all the fuss about it in Nigeria? My little advice to the Nigerian HND holder who have suffered this discrimination, and who feel qualified enough for certain positions denied them is this: do not let man-made barriers block your ambition, except you have none. Take a cue from others; take time off to do meaningful internet browsing, not using the internet for 419 and other such negative activities. In no time, you too can obtain scholarships to foreign and much better rated institutions of higher learning. By so doing you would have catapulted yourself well beyond any possible academic discrimination if you choose to return to Nigeria to work.

Christian Dimkpa, a PhD fellow of the International Max Planck Research School, writes from Jena, Germany (cdimkpa@ice.mpg.de)

A Perspective On The Discrimination Against Nigerian HND Holders

By

Christian Dimkpa

Germany

Dimkpa@uni-jena.de



At present, the average Nigerian graduate, be they of the university or the polytechnic hue, is largely poorly trained and therefore ill equipped to face life’s dynamic realities. On a visit to Nigeria last summer, one of my former lecturers at the Michael Okpara College of Agriculture (MOCA), Owerri Imo State, during a discussion, concluded that the last set of motivated and serious students of his college graduated in 1998. I agreed with him not because I was of that set, but because my HND research project attests to that. However, I remembered that this same lecturer, like several of his peers, rather than engage the students in rigorous academic work, sold plagiarised hand-outs to us like no man’s business. This brings me to the recent directive from President Obasanjo, aimed at ending the discrimination between HND and BSc graduates. Whether employers of labour are heeding this directive or not, is another story. But, tell me, what is there to discriminate against when both qualifications (as obtained from Nigeria in recent times) reek of mediocrity? The truth is, like his BSc counterpart, the present Nigerian HND graduate is a lazy, dependent fellow who would not take his destiny in his hands. Many students attend polytechnics for several reasons. For me, but also, am sure, for many ND students, being from just an average-resource base family, undertaking an ND program was a form of security, since the later is of shorter duration, and there is no guaranteed funding for the longer BSc program. It was reasoned that in the event of loss of sponsorship (from death or loss of job by the sponsor); one can pause after the ND, work for a while and then continue with higher studies. For the much longer BSc program, loss of sponsorship midway could see the individual involved back to school certificate level. Would you blame anyone for reasoning this way? I wouldn’t; with poverty so palpable in Nigeria.



Although I was fully aware of the discrimination phenomenon, I did not let it be a road-block to my ambition. If you will permit, a brief delve into my career might help to buttress this point. I use to hold (of course, I still hold) a National Diploma (ND) and a HND in Crop Production, both from relatively non-renown higher institutions in Nigeria. However, it is instructive that today, I am pursuing a PhD program at one of the prestigious Max Planck institutes in Germany (best research institute in Europe and eight best globally), and this is in an innovative field of study that perhaps, may never be conducted in any Nigerian university many years from now. This is after obtaining an International MSc degree in Belgium from a university that is listed among the first 300 globally. Note that no Nigerian university is in the first 500, and in the newspaper recently, one Nigerian stakeholder lamented that even if the ranking is extended to the first 5000 best universities, Nigerian universities would still not make the list.



After my HND studies in 1998, I worked with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Ibadan, as a Research Assistant. During the interview for that position, several BSc graduate applicants from ‘well-known’ universities such as UI, UniLag, OAU-Ile Ife, among others, were interviewed as well, but the big university names associated with those individuals did not save them from relegation, as they say in football parlance. What I am emphasising here is that it is the intellectual quality of the individual, not the institution attended, that often matters. If you know IITA, then you will agree with me that when it comes to staff recruitment, personal merit is the watchword, not merely possessing a HND or BSc degree.



Afterwards, I applied for graduate studies at the Federal University of Agriculture in Abeokuta (UNAAB). Surprisingly or not, I was not considered suitable for admission either because of my HND (upper credit), or because I do not come from that part of Nigeria (remember that tribalism is another serious scourge in Nigeria). But that is by the way. Nevertheless, I did not relent in my desire to attain the highest academic level possible, so that in spite of possessing a HND and the unexplained rejection by UNAAB, and thanks to hundreds of internet hours, I soon obtained a full scholarship from the Belgian inter-university council (www.vlir.be) in 2003, to study Molecular Biology (Plant Biotechnology) in that country. When I arrived in Belgium for the MSc program, I found out that of 241 Nigerians who applied for scholarship for the course, I was the only one admitted. Remember, I held a HND, not the ‘almighty’ BSc. The curious mind that I am, I inquired more about the unsuccessful Nigerian applicants and behold, they were mostly university graduates (again from UI, UniLag, OAU, UNN, UniPort, etc). Of course, two other students of The Polytechnic Ibadan were also admitted but for a different MSc course. That polytechnic offers only HND and not BSc programs. Such is the power of the individual merit. I have since acquitted myself very well in the Belgian MSc program; hence I was admitted, again on full fellowship, to one of the International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS) of the Max Planck society in Germany (http://www.mpg.de/english and also (http://www.ice.mpg.de) , to study beneficial plant-microbe interaction using modern biotechniques, including proteomics and metabolomics. The other Nigerian scholars, formerly holding HNDs, have since undertaken different higher pursuits here in Europe. This narrative does not by any means attempt to denigrate Nigerian BSc graduates or the universities from which they graduated, but rather to de-emphasise the entrenched segregation. There is even a dichotomy between federal and state university graduates. Wonders shall never end, in Nigeria! From my experience, it can be seen that the senseless HND-BSc dichotomy should have no place in the mind of any serious-minded Nigerian graduate. After all, the HND is fully recognised in the UK and have several equivalents in other European countries. What then is all the fuss about it in Nigeria? My little advice to the Nigerian HND holder who have suffered this discrimination, and who feel qualified enough for certain positions denied them is this: do not let man-made barriers block your ambition, except you have none. Take a cue from others; take time off to do meaningful internet browsing, not using the internet for 419 and other such negative activities. In no time, you too can obtain scholarships to foreign and much better rated institutions of higher learning. By so doing you would have catapulted yourself well beyond any possible academic discrimination if you choose to return to Nigeria to work.





Christian Dimkpa, a PhD fellow of the International Max Planck Research School, writes from Jena, Germany (cdimkpa@ice.mpg.de)

We will pursue all options and if it requires a bill to the National Assembly, we will be most willing to sponsor such bill. We will explore the presidential directive to the fullest because it is one of the best news about the development of technical and vocational education in this country",, Dr N. Yakubu

The Executive Secretary, National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Dr. Nuru Yakubu, has disclosed that the Federal Government has set aside N23bn in the 2006 budget for the board and federal polytechnics.

Yakubu disclosed that the board with the Rectors of the various Polytechnics have concluded plans to lobby the National Assembly to legislate on the presidential directive for the complete removal of the disparity between degree and Higher National Diploma holders describing it as the best thing that had happened to the development of technical education in the country.


The NBTE said that the directive that polytechnics should stick to their carrying capacity as well as to adhere to the ratio of 70:30 in admission would affect revenue generation by the institutions.

He explained that due to expected decline in revenue generation 'we have commenced lobby of the National Assembly members on the need, if the opportunity avails itself, to increase in particular the overhead grant in the federal polytechnics.'

On the removal of the disparity between degree and HND holders, he said that they would work with all relevant bodies, organisations persons and major stakeholders to actualise it.

He said that they were considering all options including a law to make it illegal for any employer to discriminate against holders of HND in terms of employment.

"We will pursue all options and if it requires a bill to the National Assembly, we will be most willing to sponsor such bill. We will explore the presidential directive to the fullest because it is one of the best news about the development of technical and vocational education in this country",î he said.

No respite yet for Polytechnics

Oluwole Akinjayeju,
Department of Food Technology,
Yaba College of Technology, Yaba, Lagos.

AS one of the stakeholders in polytechnic education in Nigeria, one cannot but applaud the recent pronouncement of Mr. President that henceforth, the artificial barrier placed on the career progression of polytechnic graduates in the employment of government will be removed. This cheering news that henceforth, Higher National Diploma (HND) holders in the civil service can now rise above salary grade level 14 to which they have been consigned since God-knows when, came when the president was addressing some stakeholders in the education sector who paid him a courtesy call at the Presidential Villa recently.
Coming from the president himself, one has no doubt that the pronouncement was an official policy statement, which will be fully implemented. Without being unnecessarily hasty, it will not be out of place to say a big thank you to Mr. President for this gesture, which has been long overdue. At least, it’s better late than never! One can only hope that it will not be one of those political statements made on the spur-of-the-moment.
However, the issue of limiting HND holders in the public sector to salary grade level 14 is just one of the many areas by which the polytechnic sector has suffered humiliation from both the government and the society at large, and unless these other problems are addressed, the recent pronouncement of the president will not achieve much in rescuing the polytechnic system from the abyss it has sunk to, due to no fault of those running the system. I will try to enumerate some of these areas of marginalisation against the polytechnics over the years, hoping that these areas will also receive immediate government’s attention.
Allowing HND holders in government employment to rise beyond salary level 14 will only benefit those that are lucky to be in employment in the first place. It is common knowledge now that it is becoming easier for the carmel to pass through the needle’s eye than for an HND holder to be considered for employment both in the private and public sectors of the economy. This is not because of lack of competence on the part of these products of polytechnics, but due to the age-long prejudice against polytechnic graduates. Even those already in employment are daily being threatened of disengagement.
Another form of discrimination against the polytechnics is the barrier placed on the academic progression of graduates of the system, by putting insurmountable huddles in their path for higher degrees. Polytechnics will not be allowed to run post-graduate programmes, while universities continue to give very ridiculous conditions for admission of HND holders for higher degrees. This is not only demoralising but also unfair.
Funding is yet another area that has adversely limited the potentials of polytechnics, especially when compared to the level of funding of their university counterpart. Another very serious concern to the polytechnic is the lack of a commission that will champion their cause, as is the case with other levels in the education sector from nomadic to university. It is only the polytechnic sector that has been denied a separate commission that will see to its well-being.
Two other areas that had continued to portray the polytechnics as being inferior are the issue of the Visitor to these colleges and the tenure of the term of office of their chief executive officers. Whereas the President of the country is the visitor to universities, the Minister of Education is the visitor for polytechnics. This arrangement, without prejudice to the capability of the holder of the office of Minister of Education at any time, gives the impression, albeit inadvertently, that the polytechnics are inferior to the universities. Even though they may not be the same in terms of their set-up, each one operates exclusively in its own area of mandate.

www.tribune.com.ng/sat/040306/let01.html

The dichotomy between HND, B.Sc
Aluta-Continua-Victoria-Ascerta!
Jimi Ademulegun,Wrote from Odode, Idanre,Ondo State

PRESIDENT Olusegun Obasanjo’s government declaration recently that Higher National Diploma (HND) Certificate is equivalent to the university first degree is a welcome development, which has solved a seemingly threatening reality - the issue of HND/BSC dichotomy and subjugation. HND graduates have been subjugated for quite a long time, in all spheres – be it academic or job placement, by their university counterparts. Ironically, the HND graduates do the jobs while their university counterparts enjoy the benefits. This is the second time Chief Olusegun Obasanjo would delve into and resolve the HND/BSC imbroglio.In 1978, precisely, his efforts toward this end enabled the HND engineering graduate to enjoy parity with his BSC colleague then. That singular action became a watershed in removing the injustice against the HND graduate for a long time. Sometime, a little act done at the right time has optimum premium of reducing the cost of solving an uphill task. In this way, President Obasanjo seems to have scored an ace. Many people may not know the passion and frenzy with which the university certificated personnel and administrators at various levels handled the issue of HND and BSC in Nigeria, hitherto. They treat HND graduates with disdain. They are imperialistic and fascistic. Since they have taken over the rein of administration, that has been the posture. They threaten any personnel found pushing the rights of HND graduates. It is either that person is frustrated out of job or denied promotion in a gangsteristic manner. You may not know this. It is that bad. Sometime a fresher from the university is made to boss an HND graduate who may have had several years of experience, even a youth corps member who is a university graduate may earn more than the HND graduate even if the former is under his supervision or tutelage. Another dimension to it is the systematic strangulation of the HND through denial to participate in National Youth Service programme. This must be looked into and corrected. The invasion and watering down of school’s curriculum and courses in an attempt to subordinate HND graduates by all means, is now rife, through the National Board for Technical Education. Added to this is the growing fad, with a serious campaign, in the public service to denigrate HND graduates like, engineers, accountants, veterinary doctor etc, by simply them technologists so that only the university graduates bear such designations, even though professionalism and job descriptions do not change. The truth of the matter is that there is no law subordinating HND to BSC (first degree) ever. Indeed the reverse should be the case as attested to by many erudite academicians. By definition, diploma is an educational certificate of proficiency; so HND is a higher educational certificate of proficiency, while a technologist is someone who has mastery of systematic application of knowledge to practical tasks in industry. In the Civil Service Rule and Regulation, officer cadre is defined as staff who have received university degrees or professional equivalents, or serving officers who have been so appointed; while, directors are staff who have relevant university degrees or professional equivalents, and they have also attended relevant senior management training or have acquired same through considerable exposure to general management duties by virtue of their previous appointments. The question now, is what is the equivalent of a university first degree and where is the law that bars HND graduate in the emolument chart or subordinates it to a BSC? The worst offenders in HND subjugations may not be the university cronies afterall, but the HND graduates themselves, for their traitorous attitude, especially, when they are in positions of authority; they team with rivals to subvert their colleagues and the institutions awarding HND certificate by failing to lend their weights and voices in favour of their products and institution. Now that president Obasanjo has revisited and removed the unjustified dichotomy, between the HND and BSC, both federal and state executives, legislatures, and judiciary should ensure the resolution is given accelerated attention and execution. Both federal and state ministry of establishments, civil service commissions the national salaries, incomes and wages commission should be prevailed upon to execute the policy resolution this time around. www.tribune.com.ng/110306/let01.html

donnie:
Sorry,

this is not for you because you can only live the Christian life through the Spirit.

The carnally minded cannot live that life.

You need a MIRROR to see your Christianity as a deity rag, Make believe type. No humility at all I wonder the kind of people that associate with you. Birds of a feather

Fake reasoning!

You are quating out of context

Not all that call me father, but all those that does the will of almighty. Non christian will surely get there.

virozuru:
"Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, saith the Lord of hosts, that if i may not open up the windows, and pour ye out such a blessing that there will not be room enough to recieve it."

Why is it that only that part of Malachi was quotableBecause it has to do with food. You are not a LevittThe message refers to Levitt|_

"3     And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness"

I have never pay tithe to any church.

I enjoy abundant blessing.

When I have I do give to the needy. I do take part in maintaining places of worship, Churches, Mosques and recreation centres. I help in street maintenance. But to give my money to papa and Mama church founders s, ! No way.

4get_me:
(a) if tithing per se is a "lie", why does the "lie" bless my life and finances?

When you give to any one joyfully God will surely bless you not only tithe

MALACHI CHAPTER 3

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1     ¶ Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me:

and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.

2     But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:
3     And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.
4     Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years.

5     And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.



6     For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

7     ¶ Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?
8     Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.


9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.

10     Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

11     And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.

12     And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.

13     ¶ Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee?
14     Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?

The Bible speaking : and he shall purify the sons of Levi, Not NIGERIAN  and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.

Seek first the kingdom of God every other things shall be added for thee. You are only talking about tithe, we know that it is only in Given can you receive. not only when you tithe. Man must not leave by bread alone.

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03761b.htm

The proper support of church edifices and church institutions, as well as of the clergy who minister in them, has always been both a necessity and a problem. As the Church of Christ is a visible organization, it must embrace a visible priesthood, worship, and temples. These must be maintained. As a consequence, the Church must acquire property both movable and immovable, and this she cannot obtain without a corresponding generosity on the part of the faithful. To pretend that the Church should be utterly deprived of property, is not only an error, but also an absurdity. In the Old Dispensation, the Jewish priesthood were put in possession of certain towns all through Israel, and by the Mosaic Law they received a portion of various sacrifices offered in the Temple. The magnificent Temple itself was a gift of the kings of Israel, and its maintenance was provided for partly by royal munificence, partly by the offerings of the people. The Temple had its treasury or corbona. By Divine command, as we read in Scripture, the Aaronic clergy received firstfruits, tithes, and other contributions towards their support.


Nor was there less recognition of the general principle in the New Testament. We are told that Christ and His Apostles had a common purse for the defraying of their expenses. That this information comes to us only incidentally, through the narration of an event bearing no direct relation to it, shows that the Evangelist presumes the reader to take it for granted that there was a common purse for the expenses of Christ and His disciples.

The Acts of the Apostles portray to us the fervour of the first Christians, who sold their lands and laid their proceeds at the feet of the Apostles that they might employ them for the needs of the nascent Church. Along with the support of the poor and the widow and the orphan, would also necessarily be included the sustentation of the clergy and the defraying of the expenses connected with the worship of God. Christ in sending forth His disciples to preach told them to accept what was necessary for their support from the people to whom they ministered, basing it on the general principle that the labourer is worthy of his hire (Luke 10:7); Saint Paul states (1 Corinthians 9) that it is Christ's command that the faithful give temporal sustenance to the clergy. While reminding the Corinthians that he himself has been no charge or burden to them, he takes occasion to inculcate on them the duty of supporting their pastors. "If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great matter if we reap your carnal things? Know you not that they who work in the holy place, eat the things that are of the place; and that they that serve the altar, partake with the altar? So also the Lord ordained that they who preach the Gospel, should live by the Gospel(1 Corinthians 9:11, 13-14). [/color]Connected with this contribution towards the support of the clergy, we find Saint Paul also alluding to the similar duty of helping the poor. In the fifteenth chapter of the Epistle to the Romans he states that contributions had been made in Macedonia and Achaia for the support of the poor in Jerusalem, and that he is on his way to that city to bring the contributed relief [color=#990000](Romans 15:25-28). In like manner (1 Timothy 5) he speaks of the Church supporting the widows. The Apostles in fact, as we learn from the Acts, charged the deacons with the ministry to the temporal wants of the poor. The Church has always been mindful of this conjoining of the support of the clergy and of church institutions with that of the poor and suffering, and hence the regulations for setting apart some of the income of holders of benefices and the employment of church moneys for the relief of the helpless and the indigent, the widows, the orphans, and the sick.

At first, the tithe was payable to the bishop, but later the right passed by common law to parish priests. Abuses soon crept in. The right to receive tithes was granted to princes and nobles, even hereditarily, by ecclesiastics in return for protection or eminent services, and this species of impropriation became so intolerable that the Third Council of Lateran (1179) decreed that no alienation of tithes to laymen was permissible without the consent of the pope. In the time of Gregory VIII, a so-called Saladin tithe was instituted, which was payable by all who did not take part personally in the crusade to recover the Holy Land. At the present time, in most countries where some species of tithes still exist, as in England (for the Established Church), in Austria, and Germany, the payment has been changed into a rent-charge. In English-speaking countries generally, as far as Catholics are concerned, the clergy receive no tithes. As a consequence, other means have had to be adopted to support the clergy and maintain the ecclesiastical institutions (see CHURCH MAINTENANCEhttp://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03761b.htm), and to substitute other equivalent payments in lieu of tithes. Soglia (Institut, Canon, II, 12) says "The law of tithes can never be abrogated by prescription or custom, if the ministers of the Church have no suitable and sufficient provision from other sources; because then the natural and divine law, which can neither be abrogated not antiquate, commands that the tithe be paid." In some parts of Canada, the tithe is still recognized by civil law, and the Fourth Council of Quebec (1868) declared that its payment is binding in conscience of the faithful.
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14741b.htm