The Joint Committee of the House of Representatives investigating alleged certificate racketeering in Nigeria’s higher institutions has called for stricter laws and stiffer penalties for individuals and institutions involved in certificate forgery. The committee made the call following its inspection visits to tertiary institutions in Lagos State as part of its ongoing national investigation.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Abubakar Fulata (APC–Jigawa), stressed the need to restore integrity and credibility to Nigeria’s education system, which he said has been eroded by the growing wave of certificate racketeering. Fulata made the remarks after the committee’s investigative tour of the University of Lagos, Yaba College of Technology, Caleb University, and Lagos State University.
He described certificate forgery as a “moral and national embarrassment” that undermines the foundation of education and devalues the achievements of hardworking students. The lawmaker lamented that some individuals now obtain academic qualifications through fraudulent means, bypassing the rigorous learning process that degrees are meant to represent.
“In the past, students studied hard and passed their examinations before earning their certificates,” Fulata said. “Unfortunately, today, many people prefer to buy degrees instead of earning them. It is disheartening to see individuals with degree certificates who cannot defend what they claim to have studied or even write their names properly.”
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He added that the challenge extends beyond individual offenders to institutional complicity. According to him, some staff and administrators of higher institutions aid certificate forgery, thereby weakening the credibility of the entire system. Fulata warned that such collaboration between fraudsters and insiders poses a serious threat to the nation’s educational reputation both locally and internationally.
The committee, he said, would recommend laws that criminalize institutional involvement in certificate fraud and make forgery a more heavily punishable offense. It also plans to propose measures ensuring that anyone caught aiding such activities whether a student, staff member, or external collaborator, such a person or group of people should faces severe consequences.
To curb the practice, Fulata urged universities and polytechnics to strengthen the security features of their certificates through digital verification and traceable authentication systems. “The management of institutions must embed verifiable digital features in all certificates. This is the only way to discourage those who attempt to forge or duplicate academic documents,” he said.
He noted that the investigation was initiated after an exposé by an investigative journalist revealed widespread certificate racketeering across Nigerian universities. Following a House resolution, the committee began nationwide inspections to assess the extent of the problem and identify loopholes in the certification process.
Fulata revealed that the committee’s findings will guide legislative reforms to strengthen oversight and accountability in the education sector. “This is about restoring the moral fiber of our education system,” he stated. “When a nation’s certificates lose value, its entire human capital base is compromised.”
The committee expressed concern that the integrity of Nigerian degrees is increasingly being questioned by foreign institutions and employers due to the rise in fraudulent credentials. It warned that unless decisive action is taken, the global recognition of Nigerian academic qualifications could be further diminished.
In addition to recommending stiffer sanctions, the committee proposed the establishment of a centralized national database for academic credentials. This system, it said, would enable real-time verification by employers, embassies, and academic institutions, reducing the risk of forgery and duplication.
The lawmakers emphasized that a coordinated national strategy is required to protect the credibility of Nigerian education. They urged universities, professional bodies, and regulatory agencies such as the National Universities Commission (NUC) and National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to adopt uniform verification standards and reporting protocols.
The committee’s investigation also comes amid ongoing public scrutiny of academic records of prominent figures, including the recent resignation of former Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Geoffrey Nnaji, who stepped down following controversy over his academic credentials. Nnaji, however, maintained that his resignation was to preserve his integrity and prevent distractions to President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
As the probe continues, Fulata assured Nigerians that the committee would visit more institutions across the country and present a comprehensive report with actionable policy recommendations. “This is not just about punishing offenders,” he said. “It is about rebuilding trust, ensuring that Nigerian education stands for excellence again, and protecting the future of our young people.”
