Abuja (Nigeria): The Joint Committee of the House of Representatives investigating the alleged certificate racketeering in higher institutions has called for stiffer penalties for certificate forgery offenders.
In a statement issued by the Chairman, Rep. Abubakar Fulata (APC-Jigawa), after a tour of some Lagos-based higher institutions, the committee called for equal punishment for accomplices of the crime.
The universities visited include the University of Lagos, Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, Caleb University, Lagos and Lagos State University.
Fulata recalled that in the past, students studied very well and passed the required examinations before they were awarded degree certificates.
According to him, it is unfortunate that nowadays people are not ready to study but are only willing to obtain certificates through illegal means.
The lawmaker said that the investigation was sequel to the resolution of the House of Representatives on alleged certificate racketeering as revealed by an investigative journalist.
“Some of us studied very well and passed the required examinations before we were given degree certificates from Nigerian Universities.
“We cannot fold our hands and watch lazy and fraudulent people destroy the name of Nigerian tertiary institutions of learning.
“It is unfortunate to see somebody with a degree certificate and having been mobilised for NYSC service but cannot properly write his name, let alone defend what he/she claims to have studied,” he said.
Fulata stated that while fraudulent individuals carry out certificate forgeries, the situation worsens when management and staff aid the crime.
He advised universities and higher education institutions to enhance security features on certificates, facilitating easy verification.