Reps begin probe of alleged certificate racketeering involving government officials

The house of representatives has commenced investigation into alleged certificate racketeering by some officials in government ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).

Abubakar Fulata, chairman of the joint committee on certificate racketeering at the green chamber, disclosed this during plenary on Tuesday.

A report had exposed a certificate racketeering syndicate in Benin Republic that sells university degrees to willing buyers in Nigeria.

During the investigation, an undercover reporter bagged a four-year university degree from Cotonou in six weeks.

The reporter used the fake certificate to participate in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme without detection.

The investigation stated that racketeering agents in Nigeria are in cahoots with top management of the university campus in Cotonou.

Multiple stakeholders have since demanded a probe of Nigeria’s education ministry over a clearance issued to foreign universities.

Fulata said certificate racketeering could cripple the healthcare system and various sectors of the economy if left unchecked.

He said the house has mandated its committees on university education, interior-foreign affairs, and youth development, to investigate the malaise.

“This has been a burning issue in both public and private institutions. There are seemingly less observance of rules, regulations, processes, and quality assurance,” he said.

“There is a need to identify officials of MDAs and students who benefitted from such institutions and their campuses in the last ten years.”