Massive Layoffs Expected as the Nigerian Government Deems Cotonou University Certificates llegitimate.

The Nigerian government has announced that all degree credentials from Cotonou University granted between 2017 and now will be void, leading to a mass exodus in Nigeria.

Education Minister Tahir Mamman revealed this during a press briefing on Friday in Abuja. This decision coincides with the government's approval to dismiss staff members who held phony degrees from the Republics of Benin and Togo.

The Minister emphasized that these actions were approved at a recent federal executive council meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu. He explained that the decision was driven by the controversy surrounding some Nigerians traveling to nearby nations to obtain unrecognized certifications.

“Now the recommendations will be implemented along with other ministries and agencies affected, including NYSC and Immigration," Mamman stated. "Because we have to make some major decisions here, some staff who are affected faced disciplinary measures, and the whole unit went through some kind of review."

He added, "But by and large, we can’t have in our midst people who procure fake certificates and compete with our students who graduated from our universities and polytechnics through their sweat. Some spent four, five, six, or more years studying, only to compete with people who procure certificates right here without going anywhere."

Mamman also highlighted the scale of the issue, stating, “What the FEC now approves is that, through the data that NYSC has, about 21,684 students are parading fake certificates from Benin Republic, obtained between 2019 to 2023. Togo has about 1,105. How did that happen? They simply attend schools that are not recognized in those countries."

“In the case of Togo, we have three universities that are officially approved and licensed to offer degrees, and in Benin, there are about five of them. So anyone who didn’t attend these universities is parading a fake certificate. And from 2017, anybody who attended a university solely run in English is wasting his time because it’s not an approved university. That is their policy."

He further noted, "A lot of our countrymen went there—some didn’t go anywhere; remember, these numbers are just what we have, and many didn’t even bother to go to NYSC."

"In the final analysis, what the federal government approved is that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) will issue a circular to all employers, whether public or private, to fish out anybody with a certificate from these institutions— that circular probably would have been out by now. And the Head of Service has also been mandated to identify and remove anyone in the public service with such certificates."

In a related incident, an undercover Nigerian journalist disclosed how he paid N600,000 to graduate in two months with a Bachelor of Science from a Benin Republic university.

This decision by the federal government highlights its commitment to maintaining the integrity of academic qualifications in Nigeria.