By Ismail Azeez, Osogbo

The National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) on Wednesday called on President Bola Tinubu to assent to bill for an Act to Abolish and Prohibit Dichotomy and Discrimination between Bachelor degree (BSc) and Higher National Diploma (HND).

NAPS made the call during a peaceful protest titled, “Save Polytechnic Education Rally” and tagged: “President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu should end Hnd/Bsc dichotomy before May 29, 2024,” in Osogbo, Osun State.

The protesters who converged at the Osun state House of Assembly and marched in solidarity to the Government Secretariat, carrying different placards with inscriptions like “President Asiwaju should assent the to bill to abolish HND/BSc dichotomy,” “Asiwaju should put a smile on polytechnic students faces,” among others.

Speaking at the peaceful protest, the NAPS Senate President, Temitope Adeniji, said that having assented to many bills the President should consider the HND/BSc dichotomy bill, which has already been passed by the 9th Assembly.

He said, “We are here today to send a signal to our father, President Tinubu, to put in the Presidential signature to this Bill and end the HND/BSc dichotomy before May 29 2024.

“We Observed that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has been assenting to many bills, but the HND/Bsc dichotomy act hasn’t been attended to.

“Polytechnic students and graduates are one of the major groups that support this government, we shouldn’t be treated like an outcast in our nation, this HND/Bsc dichotomy has stagnated many .

“Polytechnic graduates appear as second class citizens and are causing a lot of discouragement to the upcoming generation who have the intention to attend Polytechnic in Nigeria.”

While addressing the protesters at the executive chamber the Deputy Governor of the state, Kola Adewusi, commended the students for comforting themselves in a peaceful and organised manner, adding that  their demand has been heard and through Governor Adeleke, necessary steps will be taken to address their demands.

His words: “I want to commend the way and manner in which this protest is being organised, it shows a level of understanding and maturity. It sends a signal that grievance can be shown without violence.

“About your demand, I want to assure you that the Governor will table this at the NEC meeting with the President and also our representatives at the National Assembly will also assist in the course, So you have nothing to be afraid of.”

The Kano State High Court has sacked Abdullahi Ganduje as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Court granted an ex parte order restraining the Ganduje from parading himself as a member of the party.

Subsequently, the court ordered that henceforth, Ganduje should desist from presiding over all affairs of the National Working Committee of the APC.

The application granted by Justice Usman Na’abba on Tuesday followed an ex parte motion filed by Dr. Ibrahim Sa’ad on behalf of two executive members of Ganduje’s ward, Dawakin-Tofa Local Government Area, the Assistant Secretary, Laminu Sani and Legal Adviser, Haladu Gwanjo (plaintiffs), who were part of the nine ward executives who suspended Ganduje on Monday.

The court directed the four parties (respondents) joined in the matter, including the APC, NWC, APC Kano State Working Committee, and Ganduje, to henceforth, maintain status quo ante belum as of April 15, 2024, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit on April 30, 2024.

Justice Na’abba, also held as prayed, stopped State Working Committee APC Kano from interfering with the legally and validly considered decision of executives of Ganduje ward, essentially on action endorsed by a two-thirds majority of the executives as provided by the party constitution.

The ex parte order read, “An order is hereby granted directing all parties in the suit APC (first), APC National Working Committee (second), Kano State Working Committee APC (third), Dr. Abdullah Umar Ganduje (fourth), to maintain status quo ante belum as of April 15, 2024.

“The order thereby restraining the first respondent (APC) from recognising the fourth respondent (Ganduje) as a member of APC and prohibiting the fourth respondent (Ganduje) from presiding over any affairs of the NWC and restraining the state Working Committee from interfering with the legally and validly decision of the ward executives of Ganduje ward.

“That the fourth respondent (Ganduje) is prohibited from parading himself as a member of APC or doing any act that may portray him or seem to be a member of APC pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.”

Nine members of the Ganduje ward proclaimed the suspension of the National Chairman of the APC over the allegation of corruption slammed on him by the Kano State Government.

The nine APC executives said they were prompted to act following a petition written by one Ja’afaru Adamu, a member of the APC from the National Chairman’s polling unit.

In the petition, Adamu complained over allegations of corruption charges against the former governor just as he urged the ward leaders to investigate the matter to redeem the dented image of the party and the implication on President Bola Tinubu’s fight against corruption.

Although the chairman and secretary of the ward failed to act on the petition filed on April 8, 2024, nine members of the executives, led by the legal adviser, acted upon the petition, a decision that led to Ganduje’s suspension.

The Ogun House of Assembly on Wednesday passed the State House of Assembly Service Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

The passage of the bill followed  presentation of the Committee’s report by the Chairman, House Committee on Establishments and Public Service Matters, Mr Babatunde Tella at plenary in Abeokuta.

Tella moved the motion for its adoption, seconded by Mr Adeyanju Adegoke and supported by all the members.

The bill was later read and adopted clause by clause before the Committee of Whole.

The Majority Leader, Mr Yusuf Sheriff, moved the motion for the third reading of the bill, seconded by the Minority Leader, Mr Lukmon Adeleye and supported by the Whole House through a unanimous voice vote.

Consequently, the Deputy Clerk of the House, Mrs Funmilayo Adeyemi, took the third reading of the bill before the lawmakers.

The Speaker, Mr Oludaisi Elemide, directed that the clean copy of the bill be forwarded to Gov. Dapo Abiodun for his assent.