Summary: House of Reps urges FG to lift blanket ban on degrees from Benin Republic and Togo, recommending case-by-case verification instead of punishing all graduates for certificate fraud.
The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to reverse its blanket ban on degree certificates obtained from Benin Republic and Togo, arguing that the sweeping measure punishes innocent graduates alongside fraudsters.
The call followed the adoption of a report by the House Committee on Public Petitions during Wednesday’s plenary session on March 11.
Lawmakers Say Blanket Ban Is Unfair
Presenting the committee’s findings, Chairman Laori Kwamoti explained that the report stemmed from a petition filed by Sovereignty Legal Practitioners on behalf of stakeholders in Nigeria’s education sector.
The petition challenged the Federal Government’s decision to invalidate all degrees from institutions in the two neighbouring West African countries, a move triggered by concerns over rampant academic fraud.
While acknowledging the serious issue of certificate racketeering, the committee argued that punishing all graduates—including those who legitimately earned their qualifications—was unjust and heavy-handed.
Recommendations: Verify Case-by-Case, Don’t Punish Everyone
Rather than maintaining a total ban, the lawmakers recommended that the government adopt a case-by-case verification process. This approach, they said, would allow authorities to identify and sanction proven cases of fraud without tarring all certificate holders with the same brush.
The House also called on the Federal Ministry of Education to work closely with education authorities in Benin Republic and Togo to:
– Strengthen verification systems
– Curb academic fraud at the source
– Ensure proper authentication of foreign qualifications
This collaborative approach, the lawmakers believe, would address the root causes of certificate fraud while protecting the interests of genuine graduates.
Background: The Certificate Scandal That Sparked the Ban
In January 2024, the Federal Government suspended the accreditation and evaluation of degree certificates from Benin Republic and Togo following a damning undercover investigation.
The investigation exposed widespread certificate racketeering in these countries, with some individuals obtaining degrees without ever attending classes or sitting for examinations. The scandal raised serious questions about the integrity of educational qualifications from the two nations and prompted swift action from Nigerian authorities.
However, critics of the blanket ban have argued that while fighting fraud is essential, the measure casts too wide a net and unfairly penalizes students who followed proper academic procedures.
What This Means for Affected Graduates
For thousands of Nigerians who studied in Benin Republic and Togo—some through legitimate scholarship programmes and exchange initiatives—the ban has created uncertainty about their career prospects and professional standing.
If the Federal Government heeds the House’s recommendation, affected graduates may finally get the opportunity to have their credentials individually verified and validated, rather than being automatically disqualified.
The move by the House of Representatives signals growing recognition that while certificate fraud must be tackled decisively, fairness and due process must also be upheld in dealing with affected individuals.
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