The House of Representatives Joint Committee investigating alleged certificate racketeering in Nigerian tertiary institutions has called for stronger penalties against individuals involved in certificate forgery.
Chairman of the committee, Hon. Abubakar Fulata (APC–Jigawa), made the call on Wednesday after an oversight visit to several higher institutions in Lagos, including the University of Lagos, Yaba College of Technology, Caleb University, and Lagos State University.
Fulata expressed concern over the growing trend of individuals obtaining fake certificates without undergoing proper academic training, describing it as a serious threat to the credibility of Nigeria’s education system.
“In the past, students studied hard and passed examinations before earning degrees. It is disturbing that many now prefer shortcuts to genuine learning,” he said.
The lawmaker insisted that both the perpetrators and their collaborators within educational institutions must face equal punishment, stressing that any form of complicity by school management or staff worsens the problem.
He urged university authorities to enhance the security features of their certificates to make verification easier and prevent forgery.
Fulata’s remarks come amid renewed scrutiny of academic integrity following the resignation of former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Geoffrey Nnaji, who stepped down after questions were raised over his academic records. Nnaji, however, maintained that his resignation was to safeguard his integrity and avoid distracting the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The committee vowed to continue its investigation to restore public confidence in the country’s education system.
