The House of Representatives has taken a step to probe the involvement of officials from Federal Government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in the alleged “certificate racketeering” with Nigerian students.
After Abubakar Fulata, representing Birniwa/Guri/Kiri-Kasamma Federal Constituency of Jigawa State, initiated the motion, the investigation commenced. Notably, the motion received unanimous adoption by House members on Wednesday.
The genesis of this probe dates back to December 2022 when Nigerian reporter Umar Audu surprisingly obtained a degree from a university in Cotonou, Benin Republic, within six weeks.
Subsequently, Audu participated in Nigeria’s mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.
In his accusations, Audu implicated unnamed Ministry of Education officials, alleging their involvement in the certificate racketeering syndicate.
Consequently, these allegations triggered widespread criticism from concerned Nigerians, questioning the integrity of the country’s educational system.
During the motion debate, Fulata stressed the importance of thorough investigation. He urged the House to identify both MDA officials and students who benefited from such institutions in the last decade.
As the investigation progresses, more details are anticipated on the alleged certificate racketeering and government officials’ involvement.