By By Muminat Ajide
The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced the dismissal of individuals who secured employment using counterfeit certificates from universities in Cotonou, Benin Republic, and Togo.
During a press conference held in Abuja to mark his first anniversary in office, Minister of Education Tahir Mamman revealed the government’s stance on the matter.
He highlighted that a recent federal executive council meeting, chaired by President Bola Tinubu, endorsed these measures based on recommendations from a ministry-convened committee.
“The Federal Government cannot condone the circulation of counterfeit educational credentials,” Minister Mamman stated.
“It has been determined that a significant number of individuals holding certificates from institutions in Cotonou and Togo did not attend accredited universities recognized by those countries.”
The minister further detailed that over 21,684 individuals are currently known to possess fraudulent certificates from Benin Republic, acquired between 2019 and 2023, while approximately 1,105 such cases were identified from Togo.
“As a matter of policy, the Nigerian government recognizes only specific universities in Togo and Benin that are authorized to confer degrees,” Minister Mamman clarified. “Anyone presenting a certificate from other institutions is considered to possess a fraudulent document.”
Consequently, the Federal Government has directed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to issue a circular to all employers, both public and private, mandating the identification and dismissal of individuals holding degrees from unrecognized universities. The Head of Service has similarly been tasked with ensuring the removal of such personnel from public service positions.
“This decision is critical to maintaining the integrity of our educational system and ensuring that legitimate graduates are not unfairly disadvantaged,” Minister Mamman concluded.
