20240717 211213

Federal Civil Service Deny Sacking Degree Holders from Benin, Togo

Kehinde Fajobi

The Federal Civil Service Commission has refuted claims of a mass dismissal targeting workers with degrees from unrecognised universities in Benin Republic and Togo, assuring the public that no such action has been authorised.

Some federal civil servants had expressed concern over job security following claims that the government is targeting employees with degrees from unrecognised universities in Benin Republic and Togo.

The fear intensified after former Senator Shehu Sani highlighted the issue on X (formerly Twitter), alleging that many affected individuals had already lost their jobs.

Sani wrote, โ€œThousands of guys who graduated from Benin Republic universities, got jobs and married with kids are the ones hardest hit with this mass sacking by the FG.

โ€œI 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.โ€

However, the Federal Civil Service Commission has denied any mass dismissal of civil servants.

According to Vanguard, Taiwo Hassan, Head of Press and Media Relations, clarified that no formal recommendations for such actions had been received.

โ€œAt our end, there is no disengagement for now. They have to push it to us, or maybe when they get to us, thereโ€™s another round of sitting to look at it,โ€ Hassan said.

He added that any dismissal would follow due process.

โ€œThe 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.โ€

Earlier this year, a panel led by Prof. Jubril Aminu was set up by former Education Minister Prof. Tahir Mamman to investigate fake degree mills in Benin and Togo.

The panel found over 22,000 Nigerians had obtained fraudulent certificates from unrecognised institutions between 2019 and 2023.

Commenting on the findings, Mamman stated, โ€œFrom all indications in the report, the figure might be higher than what we have already.

โ€œThis is because some of the people choose not to participate in the mandatory NYSC scheme and other engagements that would have enabled us to harvest their data.โ€

He expressed dismay that unaccredited universities in Benin and Togo had issued degrees misused to secure jobs in Nigeria.

Mamman noted that a circular from the Office of the Head of Service had been prepared to identify and prosecute offenders.

โ€œSadly, these people have used the fake certificates to apply and secure job opportunities in government and private organisations, while people who studied day and night are out there looking for job opportunities.โ€

He further remarked that some of the accused individuals never physically attended the schools they claimed to graduate from.