The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to rescind its blanket invalidation of degree certificates obtained from universities in the Republic of Benin and Togo. This recommendation follows the adoption of reports from the Committee on Public Petitions during a recent plenary session amid ongoing concerns over certificate authenticity and the impact on thousands of affected graduates.
The ban originated in January 2024 when the Federal Ministry of Education suspended the evaluation and accreditation of degrees from these neighboring countries. The decision came after an investigative report exposed alleged certificate racketeering including instances where degrees were reportedly obtained in suspiciously short periods without proper academic processes. Subsequent actions included the dismissal of some civil servants holding such qualifications and the invalidation of over twenty two thousand certificates raising widespread debate about fairness and due process.
In its findings the committee highlighted that a sweeping ban risks penalizing legitimate graduates who pursued education through accredited institutions in Benin and Togo. Lawmakers stressed the need for a more nuanced approach recommending case by case verification of certificates instead of a general prohibition. This would allow authorities to target proven cases of fraud while protecting genuine holders from undue hardship in employment education and professional advancement.
The resolution urges relevant ministries including Education and Foreign Affairs to implement targeted investigations and collaborate with authorities in Benin and Togo to strengthen oversight of academic programs. Earlier probes had already cleared institutions in Togo of systemic involvement in fraud shifting primary scrutiny toward certain operations in Benin Republic.
This development brings potential relief to many Nigerian students and professionals whose careers were stalled by the policy. Stakeholders including affected alumni associations and education coalitions have long advocated for reversal arguing that improved bilateral verification mechanisms would better address fraud without broad penalties. As the Federal Government considers the House’s urging the outcome could reshape policies on foreign qualifications restore confidence in cross border education and reaffirm Nigeria’s commitment to equitable academic recognition.
