Professor Godwin Oyedokun, a don at Lead City University in Ibadan, has said the sack of some federal government workers who graduated from Benin Republic universities decrees is harsh and insensitive.
His reaction comes as a former Nigerian Senator and activist, Shehu Sani, on Monday announced that the federal government dismissed some workers with Benin Republic certificates.
The dismissal comes amid the fake certificates saga earlier last year, following the revelation from a Nigerian journalist, Umar Audu, who exposed how he bought a Benin Republic certificate for N600,000.
Reacting to the government’s sack of its workers over the Benin Republic Certificate, Oyedokun described the decision as harsh and insensitive at a time Nigerians are battling economic hardship.
He noted that while, on the one hand, the government decision is borne out of the need to uphold academic integrity, on the flip side, this would worsen the already challenging economic realities many Nigerians face.
Oyedokun called for a balanced approach—one that holds individuals accountable while also considering the broader socio-economic context.
“The decision to sack graduates over the fake certificates saga is indeed a complex and sensitive issue. On one hand, it’s crucial to uphold academic integrity and ensure that qualifications are legitimate to maintain the credibility of educational institutions. On the other hand, this action may exacerbate the already challenging economic conditions many are facing.
“The timing of such a decision could be viewed as particularly harsh, especially when numerous graduates are struggling to find employment in a tough economic climate. It raises questions about the support systems in place for those affected and whether there are adequate measures to address the root causes of certificate forgery.
“It may be beneficial for the government to implement programmes aimed at verifying qualifications and providing support for genuine graduates who are struggling to find their footing in the job market,” he told.
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