The Nigerian government has begun dismissing employees who hold degrees from unaccredited private institutions in Benin Republic and Togo, targeting graduates from 2017 onwards. This move is part of an effort to enhance civil service integrity following revelations of widespread fraudulent degree acquisition. Ministries, including the NYSC, are already implementing these dismissals.
The Federal Government of Nigeria has officially initiated the termination of employment for workers holding degrees from unaccredited private colleges in the Republic of Benin and Togo. This action targets graduates from these institutions between 2017 and the present and is part of a broader initiative aimed at purging the civil service of individuals with questionable academic credentials.
This policy follows earlier statements asserting that only eight universities were authorized to confer degrees upon Nigerians in Togo and Benin Republic. This decision was prompted by an investigative report revealing that a journalist was able to obtain a degree within two months from a Benin Republic institution and subsequently used it to participate in the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC. In response, the Nigerian government imposed a ban on the recognition of degrees from all tertiary institutions in these regions and established an investigative committee to examine the prevalence of counterfeit degree certificates.
Recent evaluations by the Ministry of Education indicated that over 22,500 Nigerians had procured fraudulent degrees from these countries, leading to the decision to invalidate such certificates entirely. As a result, multiple ministries, departments, and agencies, including the NYSC, have begun implementing the government’s directives, with reports confirming that several staff members have already been dismissed.
The NYSC Director of Information, Caroline Embu, stated that, “Five members of staff were affected by the directive contained in the letter from the Office of the SGF.” This development follows previous warnings from former senator Shehu Sani, who highlighted the government’s actions against employees with unverified academic qualifications from these institutions.
In recent years, Nigeria has faced significant challenges regarding the integrity of educational qualifications held by civil servants, particularly those sourced from foreign institutions. Following investigations into the legitimacy of degrees obtained from private universities in neighboring countries, particularly Benin Republic and Togo, the Nigerian government deemed it necessary to evaluate and revoke degrees obtained from questionable establishments. This initiative aims not only to enhance the credibility of the civil service but also to ensure that employees possess valid and recognized qualifications that meet national standards.
In conclusion, the Nigerian government’s decision to dismiss workers with degrees from unaccredited institutions in Benin Republic and Togo highlights a committed effort to strengthen the integrity of the civil service. This measure, prompted by alarming discoveries regarding the ease of obtaining fraudulent degrees, is expected to continue, thereby ensuring that only qualified individuals serve in government positions.
Original Source: dailypost.ng
