Federal Government Cracks Down on Fake Certificates from Benin Republic and Togo
The Federal Government has approved the dismissal of workers in both public and private sectors who secured employment using fake certificates obtained from institutions in Benin Republic and Togo. This directive follows recommendations made by the Ministry of Education in collaboration with other ministries.
Education Minister Tahir Mamman announced that a circular would be issued by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, instructing all employers to identify and remove individuals holding certificates from these unrecognized institutions. The Head of Service has also been tasked with purging the public service of such individuals.
The crackdown stems from a probe into degrees issued by certain tertiary institutions in Benin Republic and Togo. The investigation, prompted by a 2023 exposé by Daily Nigerian, revealed how a reporter acquired a degree in less than two months from the Ecole Superieure de Gestion et de Technologies, Cotonou, Benin Republic, and subsequently participated in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program.
Over 22,000 “fake certificates” from these countries are currently under scrutiny. The federal executive council, chaired by President Bola Tinubu, has approved the invalidation of these certificates. Among the findings, it was revealed that NYSC data shows 21,684 fake certificates from Benin Republic and 1,105 from Togo, obtained between 2019 and 2023.
Minister Mamman emphasized that the affected institutions are not recognized in their home countries, making their degrees invalid. He criticized parents for sending their children to these institutions and stressed that Nigerian authorities would not recognize qualifications from unaccredited schools.
This sweeping measure aims to protect the integrity of the country’s education system and ensure that only legitimate qualifications are recognized in the job market.
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