President Tinubu Approves Dismissal of Workers with Degrees from Benin, Togo.
In a decisive move, President Bola Tinubu has approved the dismissal of workers in both public and private sectors who hold degree certificates from institutions in Benin and Togo. The announcement was made by the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, during a press conference in Abuja, marking his one year in office.
The measure, which was ratified during a recent federal executive council meeting chaired by President Tinubu, stems from recommendations made by an inter-ministerial committee.
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This committee was established following an investigative report by DAILY NIGERIAN, which revealed the ease with which degree certificates could be obtained from certain institutions in Benin and Togo.
One of the focal points of the investigation was Ecole Superieure de Gestion et de Technologies (ESGT) in Cotonou, Benin Republic.
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The report highlighted how an undercover journalist from DAILY NIGERIAN, Umar Audu, secured a degree certificate in less than two months. Audu even managed to use the certificate to participate in the National Youth Service Scheme (NYSC), despite having legitimately completed the scheme five years prior.
Minister Mamman expressed concern over the legitimacy of many institutions in Benin and Togo attended by Nigerian students, noting that most are not licensed to offer degree programs. “We cannot have in our midst people who procure fake certificates and compete with our students who graduated through their sweat,” he stated.
According to the Minister, data from the NYSC revealed that 21,684 students obtained fake certificates from Benin Republic between 2019 and 2023, with an additional 1,105 from Togo.
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He emphasized that many of these institutions are not recognized even in their own countries. In Togo, only three universities are officially approved to offer degrees, while in Benin, there are just five.
As part of the approved measures, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) will issue a circular directing all employers, both public and private, to identify and dismiss any employee with a degree from these unrecognized institutions. The Head of Service has also been mandated to ensure that such individuals are removed from public service.
The federal government’s decision underscores its commitment to upholding the integrity of Nigeria’s educational system and ensuring that only genuinely qualified individuals hold positions within its workforce.
