The Federal Government of Nigeria has reportedly commenced the termination of public and civil service appointments secured with degrees obtained from private universities in the Republics of Benin and Togo since 2017.
A directive from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) instructed all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to identify and dismiss such employees. A letter from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) revealed the enforcement of this policy, with the termination of a staff member in Sokoto State serving as a notable example.
The letter, signed by Ibrahim A.M., Director (HRM) for the Director-General, was sighted by Allaboutschools.
It read, “Management is in receipt of a letter from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (Cabinet Affairs) (Extract of the Federal Executive Council), dated 30th July 2024…directing all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to identify and terminate the appointments of individuals employed with certificates obtained from Private Universities in the Republics of Benin and Togo from 2017 to date.”
It further noted that the staff member’s B.A. in International Relations from ESAE University, Benin, fell under the affected category, and their appointment as Admin Officer II was terminated with immediate effect.
This policy comes months after the government suspended the evaluation and accreditation of degree certificates from the two countries in January 2024. The decision followed an investigative report titled “UNDERCOVER: How DAILY NIGERIAN reporter bagged Cotonou varsity degree in 6 weeks” by journalist Theumar Audu, which exposed the ease of obtaining degrees under questionable circumstances.
The Federal Ministry of Education, in a statement signed by Augustina Obilor-Duru, criticized the proliferation of fraudulent degrees and noted that “some Nigerians deploy nefarious means and unconscionable methods to get a Degree with the end objective of getting graduate job opportunities for which they are not qualified.”
The suspension will remain in effect until investigations by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Education, and the Department of State Security Services (DSS) are concluded.
This crackdown has sparked debates about the credibility of foreign-acquired degrees and their implications for employment in Nigeria’s civil service. While the government aims to protect the integrity of its workforce, critics argue it may inadvertently harm genuine degree holders who pursued legitimate academic paths.
Leave a Reply