The Federal Government has dismissed civil servants who obtained degrees from private universities in Benin Republic and Togo between 2017 and 2023, citing concerns over certificate fraud.
The director of Information and Public Relations in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Segun Imohiosen confirmed the development on Wednesday, following directives to ministries, departments, and agencies to enforce the decision.
The move comes after an investigative report revealed widespread racketeering in these institutions.
A journalist from Daily Nigerian had uncovered how a degree could be acquired within two months from a university in Benin Republic and used to enroll in the National Youth Service Corps.
In response, the Federal Government banned the accreditation of degrees from tertiary institutions in both countries and established an Inter-Ministerial Investigative Committee on Degree Certificate Milling.
The investigation found that over 22,500 Nigerians obtained fraudulent degrees from institutions in Benin Republic and Togo.
Former Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, disclosed that these certificates would be invalidated to protect the nation’s integrity.
“These fake degrees tarnish our image globally. Many of these certificates were acquired without the holders ever leaving Nigeria, as they were facilitated through local racketeering networks,” Mamman stated.
The former minister added that MDAs were instructed to identify employees with such certificates and terminate their appointments.
“The decision is not harsh. It’s a necessary step to maintain credibility in our education system and workforce,” he explained.
An anonymous source from the OSGF revealed that a memo had been circulated directing MDAs to implement the dismissal of workers with certificates from unapproved universities.
“This action aligns with the recommendations of the investigative committee,” the source noted.
Confirming the implementation, NYSC Director of Information, Caroline Embu, said, “We’ve dismissed five staff members following the directive from the SGF’s office. This is part of the broader efforts to enforce the government’s decision.”
The Federal Government has also urged private organizations to take similar measures to uphold ethical standards in employment.
