The Federal Government of Nigeria has terminated the employment of civil servants who obtained degrees from private universities in Benin Republic and Togo between 2017 and the present, following revelations of rampant certificate racketeering.
The directive was confirmed on Wednesday by Segun Imohiosen, Director of Information and Public Relations in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
Background to the Dismissals
The crackdown follows an undercover investigation revealing widespread certificate fraud in some universities in Benin Republic. An investigation revealed how degrees were being obtained in record time from these institutions and subsequently used for employment and other official purposes, including participation in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.
In response, the Federal Government banned the accreditation and evaluation of degrees from tertiary institutions in Benin Republic and Togo and set up an Inter-Ministerial Investigative Committee on Degree Certificate Milling to address the issue.
Extent of the Issue
In August, the then Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, reported that over 22,500 Nigerians had obtained fake degree certificates from the two francophone countries.
“The fake universities capitalized on the gullibility of Nigerians patronizing such fake schools,” Mamman said. He revealed that many individuals had obtained certificates without ever leaving Nigeria, collaborating with local officials to facilitate the fraud.
The Federal Government emphasized that the decision to invalidate these certificates was necessary to protect Nigeria’s image, with Mamman stating, “Such individuals dent the country’s reputation. The Federal Government, through the offices of the Head of Civil Service and the SGF, would fish out those in the government’s employment with such fake certificates.”
Implementation of the Directive
A memo from the SGF’s Cabinet Affairs directed all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to identify and dismiss affected workers. A source familiar with the directive confirmed:
“There was a letter from the SGF Cabinet Affairs directing all MDAs to terminate the appointments of workers employed with certificates from private universities in Benin Republic and Togo from 2017 to date.”
The NYSC has already implemented the directive, dismissing five members of staff. NYSC Director of Information, Caroline Embu, stated, “Five members of staff were affected by the directive contained in the letter from the office of the SGF. No more.”
Government’s Broader Efforts
The Federal Government has identified only eight accredited universities in Benin Republic and Togo authorized to award degrees to Nigerians. It called on private sector employers to also scrutinize their staff qualifications to ensure compliance with the directive.
Mamman underscored the government’s stance: “The cancellation of fake certificates is not harsh; it is necessary. This issue is about upholding the integrity of our education system and protecting the image of Nigeria.”
The dismissals reflect a commitment to eliminating fraud and restoring credibility to Nigeria’s academic and professional institutions.
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