House of Representatives has launched an investigation into the existence of a university in the Benin Republic, which allegedly issued a degree certificate to a Nigerian student without the student attending the institution.
The joint committee of the House has commenced its investigation into the alleged certificate racketeering by inviting key stakeholders.
The committee, chaired by Hon. Abubakar Hassan Fulata, has summoned the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Youth Development, and the Nigeria Immigration Service under the Ministry of Interior.
These bodies are responsible for overseeing foreign relations, youth welfare particularly vulnerable students and travel documentation within and outside the country.
In his opening remarks, the chairman of the committee, Hon. Abubakar Hassan Fulata, said the objective of the exercise is to investigate the alleged issuance of a degree certificate to a Nigerian student without attending the institution, in collusion with some officials of various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in Nigeria.
Fulata explained that inviting critical stakeholders to the investigation is important to ensure that diplomatic laws are not breached.
He noted that this is why the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, the Minister of Youth Development, and the Comptroller General of the Immigration Service were invited to ensure the process aligns with diplomatic protocols and immigration procedures.
The lawmaker said by diplomatic rules the committee can not invite the Ambassador of Benin republic on this case hence the need to channel the process through the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to fave the way for the committee to be able to find the true situation of the alleged racketeering.
According to Fulata, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Youth Development attended the meeting in person, while the Comptroller General of Immigration was unable to attend but was represented by the Acting Comptroller General and other senior officers.
However, the committee chairman, Hon. Abubakar Fulata, expressed dismay over the Comptroller General’s absence from the investigative hearing.
He stated that henceforth, the committee would not entertain any submissions made by her representatives.
Consequently, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, in his submission, explained that by law, the committee cannot summon an ambassador for questioning. However, he suggested that the committee’s investigation should focus on verifying the existence of the institution in Benin Republic and whether the certificate issued to the Nigerian student was genuinely awarded by the institution itself.
Some of the Vice-Chancellors of the universities invited to the meeting expressed support for the efforts of the House of Representatives, and the committee in particular.
Professor Abdulrahman Salahu is the Vice Chancellor of Confluence University of Science Kogi State said this is a very good move to sanitize how some universities compromise standard, but with this current move other universities may tightened up,
He also advised authorities to ensure standard in the educational system, do away with certificate recketeering, and ensure quality education and standard in Nigeria.
Also professor Ogustine Clement vice chancellor of Adamawa State University Mubi, supported the committee’s efforts, saying if unchecked it will distort the quality of education and some time it will be a disaster arguing that some one may go for a few months to obtain a degree in medicine such will be dangerous and retrogressive in our educational developments.
COV/Bashir M.
