By Emmanuel Ogbodo
The Federal Government has terminated the employment of civil servants who secured their positions using fake certificates obtained from unaccredited private universities in Benin Republic and Togo.
This action comes after an investigation uncovered 22,500 fraudulent certificates issued by these institutions between 2017 and 2024.
Segun Imohiosen, Director of Information and Public Relations in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, confirmed the development on Wednesday, emphasizing the government’s commitment to eradicating fraud in the civil service.
The investigation was triggered by a report from a Nigerian journalist who exposed how university degrees could be acquired in just two months from certain institutions in Benin Republic and used to gain entry into the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program.
In response, the Federal Government established an Inter-Ministerial Investigative Committee on Degree Certificate Milling.
Findings revealed that only eight universities in Benin Republic and Togo are accredited to award degrees to Nigerians.
However, many civil servants had falsified their academic credentials, using certificates from unaccredited institutions.
Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, decried the practice, stating: “Nigerians obtaining degrees from such institutions tarnish the country’s reputation. Many of these certificates were procured without the individuals ever leaving Nigeria, facilitated by corrupt officials both domestically and abroad.”
The government has vowed to thoroughly identify and remove such individuals from the workforce.
Mamman also called on private-sector organizations to take similar steps to uphold integrity in employment practices.
The NYSC has also begun enforcing stricter measures against fake certificates.
Its Director of Information, Caroline Embu, confirmed that five staff members had been dismissed for their involvement in the scandal.
The crackdown underscores the Federal Government’s resolve to restore credibility in the civil service and address the proliferation of fraudulent academic qualifications.