BY AWELE OGBOGU
A source wondered if the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate is now being used to obtain an American Visa or relocation to Canada. His consternation seemed to come from the raging national scandal over an apparent mass recruitment of fake corps members at a time when the dictum that regards education as a scam is beginning to take root.
While it might seem to be a satirical situation at least to the unnamed respondent above who spoke to The Pointer on the issue, it is a fact that syndicates from tertiary institutions within and outside Nigeria have for years been selling first degree certificates to individuals, who are desperate for the National Youth Service Corps, thereby further strangulating the education sector.
The initial cases included that of two young women who were arrested at the Katsina State orientation camp of the National Youth Service Corps and they had to endure shame of the arrest with eyes of thousands of other corps members focused on them. Their offence was neither theft nor infidelity; rather, the first lady in question, Blessing Offor, was caught with a fake certificate of Bachelor of Science in Insurance and the second, Chidinma Ngozi, had a fake Bachelor’s degree in English Education. Both women, who claimed to be graduates of the Imo State University, were already undergoing the orientation course.
The two women, who were deregistered and handed over to the police, were among the six fake graduates caught in the Katsina camp during the Batch B Stream 2 orientation sometime ago. But if the women were culpable in Katsina, the males were more culpable in Taraba State at that time. Just days later, at the Taraba State orientation camp, three prospective corps members were caught in possession of fake certificates and handed over to the police. The three suspects, Nasiru Yau, Shehu Mukhtar and Illiyasu Usman claimed to have finished from the Isfop University of Cotonou in the Republic of Benin and brandished certificates from the institution. However, investigations would later reveal that the certificates were fake.
Yau claimed to have finished from Mass Communication Department; Muktar, Computer Science and Usman from Sociology Department. They all claimed to have graduated from Isfop University, Cotonou in the Benin Republic. But it was discovered that none of them could neither write nor say anything logical about their certificates or courses of study,” an NYSC top officer disclosed. Like other offenders, they were arrested and handed over to the police for prosecution. But was the police able or willing to do so? That indeed is a question for the cops! It was later reported that the case of the fake corpers in Imo State actually went to court, nothing was ever heard of the outcome. The NYSC said at that time that “all the fake graduates arrested during the NYSC camp are undergoing prosecution. The ones that we secured their jail terms are in Taraba. The court jailed two of them while one was discharged and acquitted. We are further trying to investigate that person. But two other fake corps members were jailed three years with an option of N10,000 fine. We still have other prosecutions going on in Kebbi, Abia and nationwide”.
The Pointer discovered that between August and September 2019 alone, no fewer than 95 fake graduates with doctored certificates were apprehended. They were trying to manipulate the NYSC process. Our correspondent learnt that many of these certificates came from neighbouring West African universities where syndicates had perfected their ugly trade of buying and selling certificates. In September of same year, the NYSC said it apprehended a total of 65 intending corps members during its just concluded Batch B Stream 2 Orientation, for allegedly tendering fake certificates. The authorities of the scheme always added that the arrested corps members, caught across the 36 states’ orientation camps and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, had been handed over to the police for “further investigations and possible prosecution.” The sale and purchase of university certificates for the national service and other uses had continued for years in the country and the shocking evidences had long been pouring in. It was gathered that on one hand, the universities were liable and on the other hand, syndicates were involved.
The NYSC itself revealed that syndicates and officials of some universities in neighbouring West African countries had sold university certificates for N300,000 to individuals and sent in unqualified graduates for the national service. The booming fake certificates’ market was revealed by no better source than the NYSC when it met with registrars of about 159 foreign universities in Africa which were prospective corps members-producing institutions.
“We have observed in recent years that the quality of the graduates presenting themselves for mobilisation for the national service from foreign institutions, especially in Africa, did not meet the needed manpower quality to actualise our national dream. In recent times, there has been an upsurge in the number of graduates who cannot defend their certificates. Some tertiary institutions simply sell their degrees/ Higher National Diploma certificates to persons who never passed through the academic rigour. We have evidences of persons who possess originals of such certificates and transcripts from some universities that are represented here. “We have reliably been informed that such certificates and transcripts cost between N300,000 and N500,000. In order to check this ugly trend of certificate racketeering, we strongly recommend that the Federal Ministry of Education liaise with the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure that all degrees and HND certificates obtained outside the shores of Nigeria are authenticated at the Nigerian consulate in the country of study,” Ibrahim warned the registrars.
From the breakdown of the institutions obtained by our correspondent, the Republic of Benin led the pack on the allegations list with 60 institutions, Cameroon has 15; Chad has two, Ghana 41, Guinea five institutions, and Ivory Coast with four universities.
Some other countries are Niger, Liberia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Uganda and Togo. Our correspondent gathered that tertiary institutions were also in the league of presenting over-age graduates for the national service. “We have also observed cases of suspected connivance whereby some accredited institutions help unaccredited ones to mobilise unqualified graduates. While the scheme will continue to sanction errant institutions, we are working on introducing a platform on the NYSC Portal where the prospective corps members-producing institutions will be require to upload the list of their matriculated students every year. “This will be used to eliminate the registration of persons whose names are presented for mobilisation but who are not found on the matriculation list,” the NYSC explained.
Only 3,420 among 20,000 Nigerians could defend certificates. As the market of fake certificates and fake graduates grew in the country, the NYSC, on August 2, 2019, was forced to start a policy of a “physical verification of foreign graduates and their certificates.” The scheme had begun a verification process for the foreign graduates. “The management of the NYSC notifies all foreign trained Nigerian graduates that the scheme has devised a new strategy of verifying certificates and other documents submitted for mobilisation by foreign graduates.” It took effect from the 2019 Batch B Stream Two Service Year till date yet the problem is yet to abate.
“Accordingly, all foreign trained Nigerian graduates are hereby advised to physically present themselves along with original copies of their certificates, transcripts, travel documents and evaluation letters from Federal Ministry of Education. This exercise is mandatory”, the NYSC said.
Ironically, our correspondent was told that by two months after the policy started, only 3,420 foreign graduates among 20,000, who uploaded their certificates online, showed up for the physical verification. That is, 16,580 graduates failed to show up in person to defend the documents uploaded online. That is, over 20,000 foreign graduates uploaded certificates online for mobilisation but through our measures of physical verification, only 3,420 showed up. “This is because we had warned them earlier that if they were not qualified, they should not show up,” our correspondent was told by the NYSC.
The booming market of fake certificates is no doubt taking its toll on the quality of individuals who participate in the national service, where most of them are deployed in the country’s public primary and secondary schools.
An assessment test had been introduced for Nigerian graduates who were said to have trained in universities around West Africa to be sure of the certificates and disciplines they paraded. According to the NYSC, it is shocking that some of the foreign-trained Nigerian graduates cannot read the English alphabet and do not know what a bank statement is.
“We reiterate our warning that any person who presents fake certificate in an attempt to get mobilised for the service will be handed over to the security agencies for prosecution. We are working on those fake corps members. They will be arrested and prosecuted. If we give you some of the write-ups of the graduates; some were told to write ABCD, they could not. They cannot say what a bank statement is. They don’t know. If I show you their papers, you will feel very sad. Some people have asked me if NYSC has the power to crosscheck the certification of graduates, I said no, but we have the power to ensure that unqualified Nigerians are not mobilised for service. The NYSC Act says unqualified Nigerians who go for service are liable for jail of two years.”
EFCC, NUC to join fight against fake certificates
In seeking a way out of this mess, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said it is already considering the investigations of fake graduates apprehended and how it can partner the NYSC to combat the scourge of unqualified graduates who are currently in or out of the national service.
Findings showed that the EFCC has received a request from the NYSC to check the activities of “unpatriotic Nigerians who sell academic qualifications to unqualified graduates.” As far back as 2019, it was learnt that then EFCC acting chairman, Ibrahim Magu, had met with then NYSC director-general on the issue and efforts were on to tackle the rot. But it appears that there is no solution in sight.
Yet the commission has pledged its support to the NYSC in combating fraudulent mobilisation of unqualified graduates for the national service. It also commends corps members for educating Nigerians on the danger of corruption through the anti-corruption Community Development Service groups. “We condemn the activities of unpatriotic elements who bring shame to the nation by their desire to make money at all costs, including the sale of academic qualifications to unqualified graduates”, it said.
Not left out in the struggle to clean up the mess of the booming fake certificates’ market is the National Universities’ Commission (NUC), which has been called in to assist in detecting illegal certificates being presented by fake graduates.
Our correspondent was told that the NYSC had reached out to the NUC on this matter. But the NUC only promised that the commission would ensure the credibility of certificates being issued by universities in the country, adding that it would block the “increasing number of fake foreign-trained graduates coming into Nigeria for the national service.” It is sad that the standard of education is falling in the country, especially among the affiliate institutions. The NUC has not approved the degrees of online degree-awarding institutions. The university experience encompasses all-round development of every student. Hence, there is need for proper monitoring. So, the NUC and the NYSC must work together to help the country in producing quality graduates. We will continue to certify the credibility of certificates obtained from Nigerian universities”. Also as parts of efforts at stemming the ugly tide, foreign-trained graduates, who are suspected to have participated in the service year, with fake certificates have had their certificates of national service seized until they show up for physical verification.
The NYSC confirmed this to our correspondent, saying again that the graduates were particularly from universities in Benin Republic and other African countries, and they would report at the corps’ national headquarters in Abuja for scrutiny. However the NYSC did not state how many they were.
The NYSC only said that “foreign-trained ex-corps members, who participated with questionable degrees from universities in Benin Republic and some other African countries, and have not been issued certificates are to present themselves for further scrutiny. “Those concerned are to report at the NYSC National Directorate headquarters, Abuja. Only qualified Nigerian graduates will be issued certificates of National Service in line with the provisions of the NYSC Act 2004,” the scheme said. Despite these steps, how long these efforts will go in stemming the tide of fake certificates on sale in the country is a question of time.
Commenting on the trend, civil societies said that there should be stricter monitoring and possibly, a database of Nigerian graduates, verified and as compiled by the various universities in the country. One of them, the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, noted that the same policy should be replicated for polytechnics and other corps members-producing tertiary institutions in the country. CACOL in a statement said, “first and foremost, the NUC is the regulatory authority on universities. The commission should have a more coordinated monitoring mechanism to ensure that certificates issued by Nigerian universities are real and genuine. In a way, the NUC should be a part of those to send names and details of Nigerian graduates to the NYSC and other bodies who need such. There should be a database, not only with the universities, but also with the NUC. There is nothing in this country that has not been faked. This calls for diligent efforts by all the regulatory bodies particularly in the education sector. There should be cyber intelligence and information sharing among the agencies to beat these syndicates and fraudulent practices.
“If anyone is caught, they have to be prosecuted and punished through a name-and-shame policy to prevent future recurrence.”
On its part, the Nigerian Union of Teachers, which condemned the booming market of fake certificates, said the government had a duty to rid the system of the mess. The NUT said the efforts to curb the scourge of fake certificates and graduates must start with stiffer penalties for those who were caught, noting that such offence should have a jail term of no less than 10 years. “First and foremost, what is condemnable is condemnable. The NUT condemns that illicit act of buying and selling certificates; and joins the calls for the government to rise and save our country from this mess. The fake certificates syndrome did not just start and it is not peculiar to graduates.
“By and large, this is not what we can be proud of as a country. First, the question we have to ask is who issued the fake graduates these certificates? There are people who are racketeering in fake certificates and there are more and more people patronising them.
“And of course because there is virtually nothing technology cannot do these days, when you see some of these fake certificates, they look like the real ones. Let me commend the NYSC for fishing out the fake graduates. They need to do more. “Talking about the next step, the laws of our country must be harsh to adequately punish syndicates who sell and those individuals who buy the certificates. If there are stiff penalties, it becomes a deterrent to Nigerians. If the punishment for certificate forgery comes with a jail term that is not less than 10 years, everyone will sit tight.”
Only a few weeks ago, the Police Command in Nasarawa State said it has a fake female member of the Nigeria Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in its custody. DSP Ramhan Nansel, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), stated this in a statement to newsmen. Nansel explained that the fake corps member was arrested following a complaint lodged at Keffi Divisional Headquarters by a staff member of NYSC. He said the staff reported that a 23-year-old lady had gained unlawful entry into the Magaji Dan Yamusa Orientation Camp Keffi. “The suspect was discovered at the camp during the headcount by the NYSC officials.
It was gathered that presently, the management of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has reined in at least 54 serving corps members across the country involved in fake mobilisation by their various higher institutions. Director General, Brigadier General YD Ahmed, made the disclosure while giving update on the over 178 corps members, majorly from University of Calabar, that the scheme has invalidated their certificates. General Ahmed disclosed that among the number of fake corps members whose certificates have been invalidated, the State Coordinators of the affected 54 fake corps members across across country have been communicated to demobilise them. He specifically commended the Vice Chancellor of UNICAL, Florence Banku Obi for her patriotism of reporting the scandal to the scheme’s management, ruling out the possibility of sanctioning the academic institution.
“The most important thing is for everybody to know that they can only try to cut corners but can’t go away with it. For purposes of the record, the actual number reported is 178, the certificates we have invalidated are 99, the exception certificates are two, put together they are 101. “We have four certificates that are not yet produced, and they are put on hold now. The four fake corps members that are supposed to collect these certificates cannot collect them again. We have 19 fake prospective corps members waiting to be mobilised for orientation that have been blocked in our system. “We have 54 serving corps members in various states. We have communicated to our various State Coordinators to demobilize them. We are likely going to prosecute them because they are supposed to refund the federal government of the various allowances they have collected.
“We are not going to allow them to go free like that. There is no way the scheme will know the authenticity of whether those mobilised actually graduated from various institutions. It is from the names given to us that we mobilise. There is a special portal handled by various institutions which we don’t have control over. We cannot add or reduce. It is purely the control of various institutions. We work on the names given to us,” he explained.
Giving insight on how the lid was opened, General Ahmed said: “At a point, the Vice Chancellor of University of Calabar, came to our national headquarters to report that she has observed that some names mobilised for the scheme that ought not to be there.” So where does the nation go from here? It is indeed not enough for the NYSC and the institutions to be on the same page but they must urgently find a solution considering that the sector is precariously edged on a precipice.
