Civil service: FG sacks graduates from Benin Republic varsities

There are indications that the Federal Government has commenced the issuance of letters of termination of appointment to its workers that graduated from universities in the Benin Republic.

This might be part of the recommendations of inter-ministerial investigative committee on degree mills constitued by the former Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, under the chairmanship of Prof. Jubrila Amin, to investigate a recent media report of degree mills in Benin Republic and other neighbouring countries. 

Prof. Mamman expressed sadness over what was uncovered during the investigations, stressing that the Ministry would work with relevant agencies to sanitise the education sector, and rid it of any fake tendencies.

He said: "We can't afford to have the integrity of our education system soiled by some few persons. There are strong indications that some people are parading fake certificates in public and private organisations who need to be flushed out. The report of the inter-ministerial investigative committee is a product of a thorough investigation.

"It is sad that someone who should come out of a Nigerian university with a 2:1 or 2:2 is now parading an international certificate with first class. The Ministry is determined to take steps to sanitise the system," he said. 

Prof. Mamman expressed sadness over what was uncovered during the investigations, stressing that the Ministry would work with relevant agencies to sanitise the education sector, and rid it of any fake tendencies.

He further disclosed that over 22, 500 Nigerians are parading fake certificates obtained from Benin Republic and Togo between 2019 and 2023, adding that over 21, 600 obtained the certificates from an unaccredited universities in Benin Republic within the time frame, while about 1,105 also obtained theirs at some unaccredited universities in Togo.

He said: "From all indications in the report, the figure might be higher than what we have already. This is because some of the people choose not to participate in the mandatory NYSC scheme, and other engagements that would have enabled us to harvest their data.

"Sadly, these people have used the fake certificates to apply and secure job opportunities in government and private organizations with the mindset that they schooled abroad, while people who studied day and night are out there looking for job opportunities.

"Even within the countries, Benin and Togo, these universities are not accreditated to offer degree programme. I don't know how Nigerians chose to go to unaccredited institutions abroad to 'study'. Our investigations also indicated that many of the people never even attended the school physically. "

The Minister, however, confirmed that a circular has been prepared from the Office of Head of Service of the Federation that would enable the fish out of these people for due prosecution. 

"Private sector operators are also encouraged to carry out further investigations on their staff who are parading foreign certificates, and ensure that anyone parading a certificate obtain from these countries between 2019 and 2023 are fished out and handed over to the Federal Ministry of Education for prosecution. Because the circular from the Head of Service will also be binding on private sector operators."

He, however, pledged to take decisive role to ensure standards are enshrined in the system, saying that the Ministry can't afford to let down the country when it comes to standards.

Chairman of the Inter-ministerial Committee, Prof. Jubrila Amin, however, painted the gory pictures of their findings, lamenting the horrible standards of education in the schools, stressing that the situation at hand require speedy intervention, thus recommending that all agencies in the sector must digitise/automate their system.

He said: "in the course of our investigation, we realized that the programme of accreditation and evaluation of results is inadequate, hence we suggested automation of the entire education system as a way to go. In such a way, someone can sit in his or her office and monitor what is happening in all tertiary institutions."

He, thus suggested that the National Universities Commission (NUC) pay more attention to institutions offering part time or sandwich programmes to avoid a repeat of 2017 saga of centres offering unaccredited courses.

He said: "We observed that people go and get fake degrees from institutions abroad. We visited those countries to found out things for us. We know what a proper degree looks like. We also know what the fake one looks like. We have suggested that the Ministry scrutinise anyone presenting a certificate from those institutions and anything else is fake."

Meanwhile, a vocal Kaduna Senator, Shehu Sani, confirmed the mass sack in a post in his verified X account.

He said, "so sad to read the termination letters of some of the Federal Government staff who graduated from the Universities in Benin Republic.

"Thousands of guys who graduated from the Benin Republic universities, got jobs and married with kids are the ones hardest hit with this mass sacking by the Federal Government. 

"I appeal to the Government to reconsider the sacking by creating an opening for them to make up with a Nigerian degree through the open university system."

The post, however, attracted several reactions from netizens. While some condemned that actions, others appealed for mercy and another opportunity for the affected workers