HND holders sue architects’ council for alleged discrimination
The Architect Registration Council of Nigeria has been dragged before the Federal High Court in Akure, the Ondo State capital, by some architects holding the Higher National Diploma certificate.
The aggrieved professionals alleged that the council was discriminating against their HND certificates and consequently refused to register them as members.
The plaintiffs alleged that only architects with university degree were being recognised by the council.
Specifically, the architects alleged that because they possessed HND certificate in Architecture, the council denied them the opportunity of sitting the Architects Compentence Programme Examination or Professional Practice Examination.
They prayed the court to give an order mandating the defendants to allow them and “all HND holders in Architecture from accredited polythenics to be considered for registration and licensing as architects via Final I, Finals II & PPE Professional Practice Examination or Architects Competence Programme Examination. “
The plaintiffs also sought an order of the court, compelling the defendants to allow them and “all HND holders in Architecture from accredited polytechnics, who have, in addition to their HND, postgraduate diplomas and Master’s degree in Achitecture, to sit the Architects Compentence Programme Examination or Professional Practice Examination.”
At the court proceeding on Wednesday, the defendants were however absent despite being reportedly served with a writ of summons earlier.
But the judge, Justice Audu Dogo, adjourned the case till January 14, 2019 for commencement of hearing.
The judge said it was inappropriate for the court to give a judgment without hearing from the defendant.
Speaking with journalists after the court proceedings, the counsel for the applicants, Mr Henry Nnabugwu, said the defendants had on two occasions been served with a writ of summons but they refused to come to court.
He said, “We have filed our matter in the court for a while now but ARCON has not been responding to the court processes.
“But today (Wednesday) the court has set a date for hearing.”
(PUNCH)
