The House of Representatives has asked the Federal Government of Nigeria to reverse the blanket ban placed on university degrees obtained from the Republic of Benin and Togo. The resolution followed the adoption of a report presented by the House Committee on Public Petitions during plenary in Abuja.

Presenting the committee’s findings the chairman Bitrus Kwamoti Laori explained that the ban had generated widespread concern among graduates and stakeholders in the education sector. The petition argued that the decision unfairly punished many Nigerians who legitimately studied in accredited institutions in the two West African countries.

Lawmakers therefore urged the Federal Government to replace the blanket ban with a more balanced verification process. According to the committee the government should adopt a case by case review system to identify fraudulent certificates rather than invalidating all degrees issued in those countries.

The House also recommended that the Federal Ministry of Education collaborate with authorities in Benin and Togo to strengthen verification procedures and curb academic fraud. It further called for public awareness campaigns to guide Nigerians on how to confirm the accreditation status of foreign universities before seeking admission.

Nigeria placed the ban in January 2024 after an investigative report revealed that a university degree could be obtained from an institution in Benin Republic within a very short period. The Federal Government said the measure was intended to protect the integrity of Nigeria’s education systems and prevent certificate racketeering.

With the latest resolution lawmakers say the government should reconsider the policy in a way that punishes fraudulent practices while protecting the rights of genuine graduates who obtained their qualifications legitimately.