Topic: FG removes ceiling on HND holders’ ranking

FG removes ceiling on HND holders’ ranking
By Segun Olatunji, Kaduna
Published: Tuesday, 8 Jul 2008

The Federal Government has removed the ceiling on the salary grade level/ rank that holders of the Higher National Diploma could attain in the public service.

The Federal Government also made the Ordinary National Diploma the new minimum entry point into the public service.

These were contained in a document entitled: “Government White Paper on the Report of the Presidential Committee on the Consolidation of Emoluments in the Public Sector,” obtained by our correspondent in Kaduna on Monday.

According to the 40-page paper, the Presidential Committee on the Consolidation of Emoluments in the Public Sector set up by the immediate past president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, in November 2005 under the chairmanship of the former head of the defunct Interim National Government, Chief Earnest Shonekan, had discovered that “Entrants into the public service with HND do not have the opportunity to reach the highest grade even when they are found competent.”

Before the removal of the ceiling on the salary grade level/ rank, the promotion of HND holders in the nation’s public service terminated at Grade Level 14 while their counterparts holding university degrees were allowed to reach level 17.

The committee, therefore, recommended that, “It is desirable for the purposes of relativity that entrants into the public service where such organisations, agencies or institutions operate HAPPS, HATHSS must have the full opportunity to reach the highest grade if they are found competent.”

But in accepting the recommendation of the presidential committee, the Federal Government further directed in the White Paper that, “The dichotomy and ceiling on the Salary Grade Level/Rank attainable by Higher National Diploma holders should be removed.

“OND or its equivalent from any Government recognised institution should be regarded as the new minimum point of entry.

“Salary Grade level 01-05 should be phased out by 1st January, 2008.

“The current scheme of service should be reviewed to reflect the above recommendation.

Justifying the Federal Government’s decision, the White Paper stated, “This is in line with the ideas and spirit behind the current reform programme of the government.”

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