Nigerian Lawmakers Demand Reversal of Benin and Togo University Degree Ban Citing Accreditation Records

The House of Representatives urges the FG to end the blanket ban on degrees from Benin and Togo, proposing a verification system for individual fraud cases.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 12, 2026, 7:00 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Business Hallmark

Legislative Challenge to Regional Degree Invalidation

The House of Representatives has formally intervened in the ongoing controversy surrounding the Federal Government’s policy to invalidate university degrees from the Republics of Benin and Togo. This resolution follows the presentation of a petition by Obi Aguocha, who argued that the blanket ban unfairly penalizes thousands of Nigerian citizens. Lawmakers have now directed the executive branch to reverse the total invalidation, citing the need for a more nuanced approach to academic vetting that does not disenfranchise genuine scholars.

Findings of the Committee on Public Petitions

The decision to seek a reversal was based on extensive findings by the House Committee on Public Petitions, which reviewed accreditation data from multiple diplomatic and educational agencies. The committee’s investigation involved the Federal Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as their counterparts in the neighboring West African nations. The records confirmed that several of the blacklisted institutions were, in fact, duly accredited and recognized by their respective national authorities at the time the degrees were conferred.

Economic and Social Repercussions for Graduates

Lawmakers highlighted the severe consequences of the current policy, which has led to the immediate suspension of graduates from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program. Furthermore, the blanket invalidation has triggered job terminations and prevented many degree holders from securing employment in both the public and private sectors. The House maintained that the government's approach has created unnecessary hardship for individuals who pursued their education in good faith at recognized regional institutions.