HND holders sue FG, HOS over discrimination in public service

Hearing in the matter was stalled yesterday after an application for time to file a reply by A.K. Kamar, who appeared for the Head of Service of the Federation (HOS), explaining that the office was not aware that the matter will hold Friday.Justice BabatundeAdejumo consequently ordered the defence to regularize their replies and file same […]

Hearing in the matter was stalled yesterday after an application for time to file a reply by A.K. Kamar, who appeared for the Head of Service of the Federation (HOS), explaining that the office was not aware that the matter will hold Friday.
Justice BabatundeAdejumo consequently ordered the defence to regularize their replies and file same before the next adjourned date of September 18.
The originating summons brought by Garba Bello, Babatunde Samuel, JubrilKadiri, Christiana Owolabi, ChubaUmechukwu and Fatima Ahmed on behalf of members of the association also lists the National Council on Establishments and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) as defendants.
The claimants want the court to make an order directing the defendants to implement the directives of the Government White Paper on the report of the Presidential Committee on the Consolidation of Emoluments in the Public Sector.
While making an appeal for speedy hearing of the matter, their counsel NnaemekaEjiofor told the court that HND holders in public service are not allowed to rise beyond Grade Level 14 as against their B.sc colleagues, no matter their competence.
Speaking after the hearing, President of Nigerian Association of Technologists in Engineering (NATE), Leo Okereke said that all ministries, departments and agencies (MDA) have continued to discriminate against HND holders in the public service, wondering what the fate of thousands of graduates and undergraduates of polytechnics in the country would be.