Reps summon private varsities’ VCs over degree mills 

The  Joint House Committee Investigating the alleged cases of certificate racketeering has invited the Vice Chancellors of Igbinedion University, Edo State; Babcock University, Inishan Remo, Ogun State, and Al-Hikma University, Ilorin, Kwara State for an investigative hearing on June 2.

Other private universities whose vice chancellors were invited for the investigative public hearing include Vice Chancellor of Trinity University, Ogun State,  Wesley University, Ondo State, Wigwe University, Isiokpo, Rivers State, Elrazi Medical University, Kano State, Christopher University, Mowe, Ogun State  and Venite University, Iloro, Ekiti State, among others.

In a statement on Wednesday, chairman of the committee, Abubakar Hassan Fulata,  said the appearance of  the vice chancellors of private universities before the committee was necessary in view of allegations that some private universities are certificate mills.

Fulata said the House through a resolution mandated the committee to carry out investigation into alleged certificates racketeering following a testimony of an investigative journalist that he got a degree certificate from a university in Benin Republic within 6 months instead of 4 years and was also mobilised for the National Youth Service (NYSC) even when he had already served in 2019.

Fulata said some heads of MDAs, including Minister of Interior, Foreign Affairs, Director General, National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, NUC among others, had appeared and made their  submissions to the committee.

Fulata said the act of illicitly getting a degree certificate is not only illegal but very dangerous to the wellbeing of citizens and the socio-economic development of the country, noting that the committee would do whatever within its power to rid the universities of illicit and sharp practices.