The Nigerian Federal Government has initiated the dismissal of employees with degrees from unaccredited institutions in the Benin Republic and Togo. The action affects civil servants who graduated since 2017 and is part of a broader effort to eliminate fraudulent qualifications from the civil service amid a crackdown on degree mills. Several agencies, including the NYSC, have begun implementing this directive.
The Nigerian Federal Government has officially initiated the termination of employees holding degrees from unaccredited private institutions in the Benin Republic and Togo. This action targets civil servants who have obtained their certifications from these entities starting in 2017. Segun Imohiosen, spokesperson for the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, confirmed this decision, which is integral to the government’s efforts to enhance the integrity of the national civil service by removing unqualified individuals. This follows previous announcements that only eight universities are authorized to confer degrees in these neighboring countries.
The crackdown arose after an investigative report by Daily Nigerian highlighted that a journalist managed to secure a degree in just two months from a Benin Republic university and subsequently participated in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program. As a response, the Nigerian government prohibited the accreditation and evaluation of degrees from foreign institutions in Benin Republic, Togo, and elsewhere, citing rampant certificate fraud. Furthermore, an interministerial committee was established to investigate the operations of degree certificate counterfeiters, revealing that over 22,500 fraudulent degrees were issued, all of which are now subject to cancellation.
In light of these developments, several ministries and agencies, including the NYSC, have begun implementing the directive. Caroline Embu, Director of Information at NYSC, confirmed that five employees were dismissed in accordance with the SGF’s orders. This decision aligns with earlier calls by former Nigerian senator Shehu Sani, who had raised concerns about the validity of degrees from these countries and the subsequent impacts on employment within the government sector.
In recent years, concerns have escalated regarding the validity of academic credentials obtained from certain tertiary institutions outside Nigeria, particularly from the Benin Republic and Togo. The Nigerian government has faced challenges with certificate mills and fraudulent academic claims, prompting a reevaluation of the legitimacy of degrees being used for employment in civil service positions. With the intent to safeguard the integrity of the workforce, the government has implemented stringent measures aimed at identifying and eliminating fraudulent qualifications from its civil service.
The Nigerian government’s decisive action against civil servants holding questionable qualifications from unaccredited institutions marks a significant step toward restoring trust and accountability in public service. By targeting fraudulent degrees from the Benin Republic and Togo, the government aims to strengthen the civil service’s credibility and ensure that all employees meet recognized educational standards.
Original Source: dailypost.ng
