The House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions has recommended that the Federal Government rescind its blanket invalidation of degree certificates obtained from the Republics of Benin and Togo.
The recommendation followed the consideration of a petition submitted by Sovereignty Legal Practitioners on behalf of stakeholders in the education sector, challenging the Federal Government’s decision to invalidate degrees from the two neighbouring countries.
The motion, presented by Hon. Laori Kwamoti, urged the House to consider the committee’s report on the matter and approve its recommendations.
In its report, the committee advised the Federal Government to withdraw the sweeping ban on certificates from institutions in Benin and Togo, noting that the policy unfairly affects legitimate graduates.
Instead, the committee recommended that the government adopt a case-by-case verification mechanism to identify and address confirmed cases of academic fraud rather than imposing a blanket sanction.
It also called on the Federal Ministry of Education to collaborate closely with education authorities in Benin and Togo to strengthen verification frameworks, curb academic fraud and ensure proper authentication of foreign qualifications.
Furthermore, the committee urged the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Information and the National Orientation Agency, to intensify public awareness campaigns to educate Nigerians on verifying the accreditation status of foreign institutions and obtaining necessary homologation or equivalence certification where applicable.
The panel also recommended that the Federal Government align its future policies with Nigeria’s bilateral, regional and international treaty obligations.
