The Joint Committee of the House of Representatives investigating alleged certificate racketeering in Nigeria’s higher institutions has called for stiffer penalties for offenders involved in certificate forgery and their accomplices. The committee made this call following its inspection visit to several tertiary institutions in Lagos State.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Abubakar Fulata (APC–Jigawa), emphasized the urgent need for Nigeria to restore integrity and credibility to its education system. Fulata spoke after the committee’s investigative tour of the University of Lagos, Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, Caleb University, and Lagos State University.
The lawmaker expressed deep concern over the rising cases of certificate racketeering, describing it as a moral and national embarrassment that undermines the quality of education in the country. He stressed that the committee would recommend stricter laws to ensure that those found guilty of certificate forgery face severe consequences.
According to Fulata, “In the past, students studied very well and passed the required examinations before they were awarded degree certificates. Unfortunately, these days, many people are not willing to study; they only want to get certificates through illegal means.”
He further lamented that certificate forgery has become a disturbing trend, especially with the emergence of cases involving individuals who possess degree certificates but lack the fundamental knowledge of their purported fields of study. “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 defend what he claims to have studied,” he stated.
Fulata noted that while some individuals are directly responsible for forging academic credentials, the situation becomes worse when staff and management members of institutions are complicit. He said such internal collaboration makes the system more vulnerable to abuse, thereby tarnishing the reputation of Nigerian universities and polytechnics.
The committee chairman therefore urged higher institutions to adopt improved certificate security measures to curb forgery. He suggested that universities should embed verifiable features and digital traceability into certificates to make counterfeiting more difficult.
“The management of universities and other higher institutions must strengthen the security features of their certificates for easy verification. This is the only way we can discourage those who think they can buy or forge academic documents,” Fulata said.
He further stated that the investigation became necessary after a resolution of the House of Representatives, following an exposé by an investigative journalist that revealed the scale of certificate racketeering across several Nigerian universities. The committee’s findings, he said, would inform legislative reforms to criminalize institutional complicity and make certificate forgery a more heavily punishable offense.
The committee also expressed dismay that the integrity of the Nigerian academic system was being questioned both locally and internationally due to the rising prevalence of fraudulent certificates. It warned that unless urgent measures are taken, the value of Nigerian degrees could be further diminished globally.
In addition to recommending stiffer sanctions, the lawmakers hinted at the possibility of establishing a centralized national database for academic credentials to prevent forgery and duplication. This, they said, would help employers and foreign institutions easily verify the authenticity of academic qualifications.
The investigation coincides with the recent resignation of former Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Geoffrey Nnaji, who stepped down amid controversies surrounding his academic records. Nnaji, however, maintained that his resignation was not an admission of guilt but rather a decision to protect his integrity and avoid distractions to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
As the investigation continues, the committee has pledged to visit more institutions across the country to uncover the extent of the certificate racketeering network. It assured Nigerians that its final report would include actionable policy recommendations to sanitize the education system and restore public confidence in Nigerian tertiary institutions.
