Nigeria’s House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to reconsider its blanket ban on university degrees obtained from institutions in Benin Republic and Togo, warning that the policy could unfairly punish thousands of Nigerians who earned their qualifications legitimately.
The lawmakers made the appeal after reviewing a petition submitted to the House Committee on Public Petitions. According to the petition, while cases of certificate racketeering exist, a sweeping ban risks damaging the futures of genuine graduates who studied and completed their programmes lawfully.
Instead of maintaining a total ban, the House recommended a case-by-case verification system. This approach would allow authorities to identify and punish individuals with fraudulent certificates while protecting those with authentic academic credentials.
The controversy dates back to January 2024, when the Federal Government suspended the evaluation and accreditation of degrees from universities in the two neighbouring countries. The decision followed investigations that uncovered widespread academic fraud, including cases where degrees were allegedly obtained in unusually short periods.
Lawmakers also urged the Federal Ministry of Education to work closely with education authorities in Benin Republic and Togo to strengthen verification systems, curb certificate racketeering, and ensure that legitimate qualifications are properly recognised.
The proposed move aims to balance the fight against academic fraud while safeguarding the academic and professional futures of honest Nigerian graduates.
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