Nigeria, Oct. 16 -- The Senate on Thursday amended the Federal Polytechnic Act to empower federal polytechnics to award Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech. Hons.) degrees in science, engineering and technology-related programmes.

The amendment followed the Senate's decision to rescind its earlier position on the Act, which limited the qualifications federal polytechnics could award to the National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND).

The new provision allows federal polytechnics to award bachelor's degrees to holders of the ND, HND or Postgraduate Diploma, subject to accreditation by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and other relevant regulatory bodies.

The decision followed a motion moved by the Senate Leader, Opeyemi...