In a decisive move aimed at purging the public and private sectors of unqualified personnel, the Federal Government of Nigeria has declared all degree certificates obtained from universities in the Republic of Benin and Togo between 2017 and the present as invalid. This decision also mandates the immediate termination of all employees, both in the public and private sectors, who are found to possess these certificates.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, during a press conference in Abuja on Friday, marking his first anniversary in office. He revealed that these measures were approved during a recent meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) presided over by President Bola Tinubu.
The Minister explained that the crackdown was prompted by investigations into reports that Nigerian students were obtaining fraudulent degrees from neighboring countries without even attending classes. The Ministry of Education established a committee to investigate the issue, leading to a comprehensive review that was subsequently presented to the FEC.
“One of the things we did in the course of the year was to investigate reports of our students obtaining certificates from neighboring countries without proper attendance. The committee’s findings were sent to the Federal Executive Council, which approved some of our recommendations,” Mamman stated.
He further disclosed that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has identified 21,684 individuals who have presented fake certificates from the Republic of Benin between 2019 and 2023, and an additional 1,105 from Togo. These certificates were obtained from institutions not recognized by their respective governments, rendering them invalid.
“These institutions are not recognized to offer degree programs in their own countries. Therefore, we cannot recognize these qualifications in Nigeria,” Mamman clarified. He noted that in Togo, only three universities are approved to offer degrees, while in Benin, there are five such institutions. Any certificates obtained from unapproved institutions in these countries are considered fake.
The Minister also highlighted that as of 2017, any degree awarded by a university operating solely in English in Benin is not recognized by the government of Benin, further invalidating such certificates.
In light of these findings, the Federal Government has instructed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) to issue a circular to all employers, directing them to identify and remove any employees with certificates from these unrecognized institutions. The Head of Service has also been mandated to identify and dismiss any public servants holding such certificates.
“This is the decision of the Federal Government on this matter,” Mamman concluded, signaling the government’s commitment to maintaining the integrity of Nigeria’s educational system and workforce.
