Former Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, stated that over 22,500 Nigerians had obtained fake degrees from Benin Republic and Togo, with many of these certificates acquired through racketeering without the individuals leaving Nigeria.
Abuja, Nigeria – The Federal Government has dismissed civil servants holding degrees from private universities in Benin Republic and Togo, particularly those obtained from 2017 to date.
The move was confirmed by Segun Imohiosen, Director of Information and Public Relations in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), on Wednesday.
Background to the Decision
In August 2024, the Federal Government disclosed that only eight universities in Togo and Benin Republic were accredited to award degrees to Nigerians. This came after an investigative report revealed that a journalist had obtained a degree from a Benin Republic university in just two months and used it to participate in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.
Following the exposé, the government banned the accreditation and evaluation of degrees from tertiary institutions in both countries and established an Inter-Ministerial Investigative Committee on Degree Certificate Milling to address certificate racketeering.
Former Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, stated that over 22,500 Nigerians had obtained fake degrees from Benin Republic and Togo, with many of these certificates acquired through racketeering without the individuals leaving Nigeria. These certificates, he said, would be invalidated.
“The fake universities exploited the gullibility of Nigerians patronizing such schools. This not only undermines the credibility of our education system but also tarnishes the country’s image,” Mamman said.
The committee’s findings led to recommendations that individuals in federal employment with degrees from these unaccredited institutions be identified and dismissed.
Implementation of the Directive
The Office of the SGF has since issued a memo directing all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to terminate the appointments of employees with such degrees.
A source within the government, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the directive’s implementation, stating, “The SGF instructed all MDAs to identify and terminate workers employed with certificates from private universities in Benin Republic and Togo since 2017.”
NYSC and Other Agencies Act
Some agencies, including the NYSC, have begun enforcing the directive. NYSC Director of Information, Caroline Embu, revealed that five staff members had been dismissed as part of the implementation.
She stated, “Five members of staff were affected by the directive contained in the letter from the SGF. No more.”
The exact number of affected civil servants across all MDAs remains unknown, but the crackdown reflects the government’s commitment to addressing degree fraud and upholding the integrity of Nigeria’s education system.
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