The House of Representatives has approved a decade-long security protection for investigative journalist Umar Audu, whose daring exposé uncovered a syndicate selling unearned degrees from the Benin Republic to Nigerians, many of which were fraudulently authenticated by government agencies.
The move, announced on Tuesday, comes as lawmakers intensify investigations into the massive certificate racketeering scandal involving foreign degree mills, exposed in Audu’s report published earlier this year.
Chairman of the joint House Committees probing the matter, Rep. Abubakar Fulata, commended Audu’s bravery and directed the Nigeria Police Force and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to ensure the journalist’s safety for the next 10 years.
“We are grateful to Audu for his courage. We urge the Minister of Interior to ensure that the Civil Defence provides the required support alongside the police,” Fulata stated.
Audu, while appearing before the committee, recounted how he secured a university degree from the Benin Republic without attending a single class and had it cleared by Nigeria’s Ministry of Education for a fee of just ₦40,000.
The investigation has prompted swift reactions from government officials. Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, described the scandal as a wake-up call and advocated for a centralised, automated verification system to eliminate such fraudulent practices.
“Such an error did not occur under this administration. However, a unified, automated portal is essential to curb this menace,” Tunji-Ojo said, while also issuing an apology to Nigerians.
Representing the Minister of Education, Mrs. Larai Ahmed confirmed that the department responsible for verifying Audu’s certificate had since been restructured to prevent future lapses.
The Director-General of NYSC, Brig.-Gen. Olakunle Nafiu, also revealed that the corps had now adopted biometric verification for certificates presented by prospective corps members.
“We deeply regret the anomaly and are collaborating with relevant agencies. Our verification system is now stronger,” Nafiu said.
The House committee reaffirmed its resolve to conclude a comprehensive investigation and push forward reforms that will restore the credibility of Nigeria’s education system and public service qualifications.
For information on Press Releases, Photos, Promotional Events and Adverts, Please message us on WhatsApp via (+234) 09052129258, 08124662170 or send an email to: info@educeleb.com.
