FG orders universities to submit matriculation lists within three months

The Federal Government has directed all higher education institutions in Nigeria to submit their matriculation lists to the Federal Ministry of Education within three months after their matriculation ceremonies. This submission must be made through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) using a dedicated channel.

This new requirement is part of a broader initiative recommended by a committee established to tackle the issue of fake degree mills and certificate racketeering.

In March, the Federal Government formed an Inter-Ministerial Investigative Committee on Degree Certificate Milling in response to a Daily Nigerian report exposing the operations of fake degree mills in the Benin Republic. The report, authored by journalist Umar Audu, detailed how he obtained a degree in just six weeks and participated in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program in Nigeria. This revelation led to a ban on the accreditation and evaluation of degrees from Benin Republic and Togo.

Following the committee’s report, the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, emphasized that holders of fake degrees from both Nigerian and foreign institutions will be identified and removed from the system.

In a memo issued to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board on July 15, 2024, the Ministry of Education outlined the new requirements. The memo stated:

“You may recall the allegations of certificate racketeering involving foreign institutions, particularly in Cotonou, Benin Republic. The ministry established an inter-ministerial committee to investigate these allegations and propose solutions.

“The committee’s report has been reviewed, and the Honourable Minister of Education has approved its recommendations. Therefore, we are implementing the following:

1. Enforce that all tertiary institutions in Nigeria conduct their admissions processes exclusively through the Central Admissions Processing System under JAMB.
2. Mandate that all tertiary institutions submit their matriculation lists to the Federal Ministry of Education through JAMB within three months of matriculation ceremonies.

“Please implement these recommendations and provide the ministry with updates on your progress.”