Dare Babalola
The House of Representatives’ Joint Committee probing alleged certificate racketeering in tertiary institutions has urged lawmakers to impose harsher penalties on individuals found guilty of certificate forgery.
The committee’s call came in a statement issued on Wednesday by its Chairman, Abubakar Fulata (APC-Jigawa), following a visit to some higher institutions in Lagos. The statement also emphasized the need for accomplices to the crime to face similar punishment as the main offenders.
The universities visited include the University of Lagos, Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, Caleb University, Lagos and Lagos State University.
Fulata nostalgically recalled the past when students would diligently study, pass the required examinations, and subsequently receive their degree certificates.
He lamented that nowadays, many individuals are unwilling to put in the effort to study, instead seeking shortcuts to obtain certificates through illicit means.
The lawmaker explained that the investigation followed a resolution by the House of Representatives to probe alleged certificate racketeering, which was exposed by an investigative journalist.
His words, “Some of us studied very well and passed the required examinations before we were given degree certificates from Nigerian universities.
“We cannot fold our hands and watch lazy and fraudulent people destroy the name of Nigerian tertiary institutions of learning.
“It is unfortunate to see somebody with a degree certificate and having been mobilised for NYSC service but cannot properly write his name, let alone defending what he/she claims to have studied.”
Fulata emphasized that while individuals are responsible for certificate forgery, the situation worsens when management and staff of educational institutions are involved in facilitating these crimes.
He therefore advised the management of universities and other higher institutions to incorporate advanced security features on certificates to make verification easier and more reliable.
The committee’s call follows the recent resignation of former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Geoffrey Nnaji, amid controversies surrounding academic records and allegations of certificate forgery.
Nnaji said his resignation was not an admission of guilt but rather to protect his integrity and prevent distractions to the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
