Federal Government Invalidates Degrees from Benin, Togo; Orders Sack of Affected Workers
In a bold move to purge the public and private sectors of unqualified personnel, the Federal Government of Nigeria has declared all degree certificates obtained from universities in the Republic of Benin and Togo between 2017 and the present as invalid.
According to the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, who made the announcement during a press conference in Abuja on Friday, marking his first anniversary in office, the decision was approved during a recent meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) presided over by President Bola Tinubu.
The Minister explained that the crackdown was prompted by investigations into reports that Nigerian students were obtaining fraudulent degrees from neighboring countries without even attending classes. A committee was established by the Ministry of Education to investigate the issue, leading to a comprehensive review that was subsequently presented to the FEC.
The investigation revealed that 21,684 individuals presented fake certificates from the Republic of Benin between 2019 and 2023, and an additional 1,105 from Togo. These certificates were obtained from institutions not recognized by their respective governments, rendering them invalid.
Mamman clarified that these institutions are not recognized to offer degree programs in their own countries, and therefore, Nigeria cannot recognize these qualifications. In Togo, only three universities are approved to offer degrees, while in Benin, there are five such institutions. Any certificates obtained from unapproved institutions in these countries are considered fake.
Furthermore, the Minister highlighted that as of 2017, any degree awarded by a university operating solely in English in Benin is not recognized by the government of Benin, further invalidating such certificates.
In light of these findings, the Federal Government has instructed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) to issue a circular to all employers, directing them to identify and remove any employees with certificates from these unrecognized institutions. The Head of Service has also been mandated to identify and dismiss any public servants holding such certificates.
Mamman concluded by signaling the government’s commitment to maintaining the integrity of Nigeria’s educational system and workforce, stating, “This is the decision of the Federal Government on this matter.”
