The House of Representatives has asked the Federal Government to rescind its blanket invalidation of degree certificates obtained from the Republics of Benin and Togo.
The green chamber made the decision following the consideration and approval of reports from its Committee on Public Petitions, which reviewed concerns raised after the Federal Government announced a ban on recognising university degrees from the two West African countries.
The House urged the Federal Government to adopt a case-by-case verification mechanism to address confirmed instances of fraud, rather than imposing a blanket sanction.
It also recommended that the Federal Ministry of Education work closely with education authorities in Benin and Togo to strengthen verification frameworks, curb academic fraud, and authenticate foreign qualifications.
In addition, the lower chamber suggested that the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Information and National Orientation Agency, should raise public awareness to educate Nigerians on verifying the accreditation status of foreign institutions and obtaining homologation or equivalence certification where applicable.
The House further called on the Federal Government to ensure that its future policies align with Nigeria’s bilateral, regional, and international treaty obligations.
