The House of Representatives has launched an investigation into alleged certificate racketeering by officials from government ministries, departments, and agencies (MDA).
Abubakar Fulata, chairman of the green chamber’s joint committee on certificate racketeering, announced during plenary on Tuesday.
A report revealed a certificate racketeering syndicate in Benin Republic that sells university degrees to eager buyers in Nigeria.
During the investigation, an undercover reporter obtained a four-year university degree in Cotonou in six weeks.
The reporter avoided detection by using a fake certificate to participate in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.
According to the investigation, racketeering agents in Nigeria collaborate with top management at the university campus in Cotonou.
Multiple stakeholders have since demanded an investigation into Nigeria’s education ministry regarding a clearance granted to foreign universities.
According to Fulata, certificate racketeering has the potential to cripple the healthcare system and other sectors of the economy if not addressed.
He stated that the house has directed its committees on university education, interior-foreign affairs, and youth development to investigate the problem.
He said:
“This has been a burning issue in both public and private institutions. There are seemingly less observance of rules, regulations, processes, and quality assurance.”
“There is a need to identify officials of MDAs and students who benefitted from such institutions and their campuses in the last ten years.”