This is a big issue that has to do with every aspect of our life. From academic to religious places, places of work, politics and so many other areas.
The critical issue about this problem is that is getting worse from one generation to another generation even with all the latest technology and available digital system the fraudulent act still persist on a big scale. There is no company or institution in Nigeria that can lay claim to 100% accurate checks when it comes to vetting be it admission, employment, political seeking position including multinationals especially in the past.
Our database system is poor and terrible.
We can continue to name Nigerians caught in the act at various places that have been exposed because of this alarming fraud. And many of these investigations that led to discovery of some people with questionable credentials and controversial background are done largely by the Nigeria's media and the press.
The scale of this crime varied depending on what the person seeking the forged documents want to use it for. For instance, some that travelled abroad might be guilty of this offence too in one way or the other due to all sorts of documents procured by them or travel agents that were presented to the different embassies for further studies or some other reason. Though that is not our major concern for this write up.
My focus will be on people with questionable credentials and forged documents with padded background mainly among public office holders. Don't forget that if adequate checks are done at their previous positions and places, maybe they will not get this far. Among those politicians that are involved in this crime include the following; former speaker of the house Salisu Buhari, President Muhamadu Buhari, former president Goodluck Jonathan, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, former two-time Governor of Benue State Gabriel Suswam, former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Senator Stella Oduah, Senator Andy Uba, Dino Melaye, Minister of communication Adebayo Shittu, Senator Ademola Adeleke and Kemi Adosun, most recently, Muhammad Jibrilla Bindow, Adamawa governor.
Nigeria is a country where priority is given to paper qualifications and grades negating the needed skills, competency and experience to second position. This often push people to get involved in certificate falsification and other forged documents. Most time, this problem have parents and teachers as partners in crime in order to procure these fake certificates for their clients including highly placed politicians.
However, the issue of this certificate scandals are mostly not investigated and appropriate actions not taken to get the culprits arrested and prosecuted to serve as deterrent to others and up coming generations. The culture of fake certificates and forging of academic certificates has eaten deep into the fabric of our society because of the important status placed on people with academic qualification, wealth and power. Though there is nothing wrong with this if it is attained in a legitimate way.
Among institutions that certificate forgers have taken advantage of are WAEC, JAMB, professional bodies like ICAN, Nigerian universities, multinational companies, oversea institutions including training, seminars and workshops. Majority of these politicians that are enmeshed in these scandals never own up and bear no consequence because the Nigeria system including judiciary are aiding in this matter.
Even where foreign institutions provide a swift response denying the claimants of their certificates, Nigeria government does not deem it necessary to prosecute forgers. Like American President says Nigeria is a shithole country.
I will remind you of Senator Andy Uba's case where WAEC and Harvard University disclosed that the Senator forged their certificates, till date this man is still among majority of forgers making law for over 150 million Nigerians. This will tell you the level of crime and corruption abetting among Nigerians. These are some of the reasons why Nigeria future is bleak with no hope in sight.
But when it comes to Nigerian institutions and universities, to do a simple check will become a rocket science. You remember vividly the case of Senator Dino/ ABU and Senator Adeleke/WAEC and Kemi/NYSC. And if they are responding they will come up with conflicting reports through different officials of the same institutions and muddle up a simple check in order to cover these criminal politicians.
Nigeria is in a 'sorry state'.
Many institutions and departments that are engaging people have failed in their responsibility and duty of background checks though there are some level of comprise on the part of some institutions. Most HR departments and vetting managers that are saddled with the responsibility of vetting academic credentials and other experience are also not doing their job very well.
The best the governments of Jonathan and Buhari did about forging and to forgers in their cabinets was to relieve the affected officials of their post after mass protest on-line by the Nigerians. Jonathan relived Senator Stellah Oduah of her post without any punishment and today she in the senate making 'anti-people laws' with her colleagues. Kemi Adeosun was dropped by Buhari and smuggled out of Nigeria to London. End of story. No consequence for their actions !!
kemi Adeosun graduated before the age of 30, this automatically placed her under one year compulsory NYSC programme according to the law of the land. And she never did but went to forged NYSC certificate and still have the effrontery to remain in office for more days working under a comprised situation by dishing money in billions to Saraki and his law breaking colleagues at the National assembly for many months . Kemi has committed a very serious crime that demands the full weight of the law to be applied on her. But what did the tax payers that are paying her and her oga gets in return..... nothing but initial body language of I don't care attitude from Oga Buhari. This is a national shame and embarrassment !
Abused of power !! Breach of oath and betrayal of tax payers trust !!!
This is a guy that promised during his inauguration speech that people should be ready to face the consequence of their actions. And today we have a government where no matter your crime/action you will be let go once you are in their circle.
Instead of prosecuting 'madam oluwole' Buhari placed personal interest over national interest and smuggled her to London.
In the case of most recent one Adebayo Shittu minister of communication, the man decided to turned himself to law officer by interpreting law to suit himself as he did not observe NYSC too claiming that his experience as state assembly member equivalent service year. The difference in his own case to kemi's case is that he did not forge document.
This is the country we live, and we expect substantial improvement with this criminal conspiracy at all levels. A country of no consequence for your crime once you belong to this group of few 'political liabilities people' deciding the fate of 180 million citizens.
If proper academic and background recheck are done on all these public office holders, majority of them will fail in one way or the other going through their academic record to working experience to other personal information.
There are many forgers of academic credentials in the corridor of power across all levels and arms of governments. Many are know to friends and families and their godfathers. This active and conspiracy supports by these group of people tend to give credence to breakdown of values and culture as normal way of life.
We run a corrupt vetting system in Nigeria.
Apart from academic certificate forgery these politicians are also involved in forging documents for business, custom dealings, police issue and tax clearance because we lack adequate database and run poor vetting procedures.
Because we have no sensible and responsible governments in Nigeria there is no amount of suggestions that can minimize this problem or eradicate it. The only sector that something reasonable can be done is private sector in order to improve vetting system. Even our Nigeria universities can not keep adequate records as shown with my experience dealing with them.
At the individuals and personal level, this issue of faking and forging credentials are unimaginable with many fake doctors, engineers and accountants and other professionals caught are reported in daily paper on weekly basis.
Some of them will graduate to political league and continue their fraudulent way because of poor vetting process and comprised system.
All over the world there is no perfect system but the problem with Nigeria case is that majority are not ready for gradual and real change. Not the type of Buhari's 'fake change'. - Irunmole-nla
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