The Federal Government has instructed all higher education institutions in Nigeria to “regularly submit their matriculation lists to the Federal Ministry of Education not later than three months after matriculation ceremonies.”
This list must be submitted “through the dedicated channel of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).”
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This directive stems from recommendations made by a committee formed to tackle the issue of fake degree mills and certificate racketeers. The committee was established following an investigative report by Daily Nigerian, which highlighted the operations of fake degree mills in Benin Republic. The report, authored by Umar Audu, detailed how a degree was obtained within six weeks and subsequently used to gain National Youth Service Corps placement in Nigeria.
The revelations led the Nigerian government to ban the accreditation and evaluation of degrees from Benin Republic and Togo. Education Minister Tahir Mamman emphasized that the government is committed to removing individuals with fraudulent degrees from the system.
In a memo dated July 15, 2024, addressed to JAMB, the Ministry of Education stated, “You may recall that following the publication of allegations of certificate racketeering involving some foreign institutions, especially in Cotonou, Benin Republic, and other countries, the ministry constituted an inter-ministerial committee to investigate the allegations to find lasting solutions.”
The memo continued, “The committee has submitted its report, and the Honourable Minister of Education has approved its recommendations for implementation.”
The ministry’s request includes enforcing the mandatory requirement for all tertiary institutions to conduct admissions exclusively through the Central Admissions Processing System under JAMB’s auspices and to regularly submit their matriculation lists as specified. The ministry has requested updates on the implementation of these measures.
