The Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) has refuted claims of a mass dismissal of civil servants with degrees from unaccredited universities in Benin Republic and Togo.
The clarification followed widespread concern among federal workers and a viral post by former Senator Shehu Sani on X (formerly Twitter), alleging that the government had begun sacking affected employees. Sani wrote:
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“Thousands of guys who graduated from the Benin Republic universities, got jobs and married with kids are the ones hardest hit with this mass sacking by the FG. I appeal to the government to reconsider the sacking by creating an opening for them to make up with a Nigerian degree through the open university system.”
In response, Taiwo Hassan, the Head of Press and Media Relations for the FCSC, denied any ongoing dismissal of workers based on foreign degrees.
“At our end, there is no disengagement for now. They have to push it to us, or maybe when they get to us, there’s another round of sitting to look at it,” Hassan explained.
He emphasized the Commission’s procedural mandate, stating, “The Commission holds the power to employ, transfer, dismiss, discipline, and promote. If you ask me if we are dismissing now, I will say no. We have not dismissed anybody, and this is based on what I know at this moment. Disengagement is not something hidden.”
The controversy arose amid heightened scrutiny of foreign degrees.
Earlier this year, a panel led by Prof. Jubril Aminu reported over 22,000 fake certificates obtained from unaccredited institutions in Benin and Togo between 2019 and 2023. However, the FCSC maintains that no formal recommendation for mass sackings has been received or implemente
