The House of Representatives has decided to investigate officials of various Federal Government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) allegedly involved in certificate racketeering with Nigerian students. This decision comes in response to a motion moved by Abubakar Fulata, the representative for Birniwa/Guri/Kiri-Kasamma Federal Constituency of Jigawa State.
The motion was prompted by a case in December 2022, where a Nigerian reporter, Umar Audu, claimed to have obtained a degree from a university in Cotonou, Benin Republic, in just six weeks and subsequently participated in the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme. Audu accused unnamed officials from the Ministry of Education of being part of a racketeering syndicate involved in the fraudulent issuance of certificates.
Fulata, during the debate on the motion, urged the House to investigate and identify officials of MDAs and students who have benefited from such institutions and their campuses over the last ten years. The resolution aims to address concerns related to the credibility of academic qualifications obtained through fraudulent means and ensure the integrity of educational certifications in the country.
