CERTIFICATE FORGERY AMONG PUBLIC OFFICE HOLDERS

The recent certificate forgery scandal rocking a serving minister under the current administration is both unfortunate and deeply troubling. It raises serious concerns about the integrity of our public institutions and the credibility of the processes that usher individuals into positions of power. This development calls for urgent investigation and decisive action to restore public confidence.

It is particularly worrisome that such a scandal could emerge despite the rigorous security checks and clearances that ministerial nominees and other public office holders are said to undergo. One would expect that the Department of State Services (DSS), the National Assembly, and other relevant bodies would have verified all credentials before appointments or confirmations were made. Yet, here we are again, confronted with another instance of alleged certificate forgery among those entrusted with public responsibility.

Over the years, Nigeria has witnessed similar cases where public officials have been enmeshed in certificate forgery scandals. In some instances, the accused individuals resigned their positions, bowing to public pressure and moral outrage. However, beyond these resignations, very few have faced actual prosecution. This recurring pattern of impunity sends a dangerous message that public officials can manipulate the system, get caught, resign quietly, and still escape the full weight of the law.

How these individuals manage to scale through the all-important layers of security vetting and National Assembly screening remains a mystery. It either points to systemic loopholes or a deliberate failure by those tasked with verifying credentials. In any case, it is an indictment of the process and a call for comprehensive reform.

It is therefore heartwarming to learn that the Federal Government has initiated measures to verify the authenticity of the credentials of all civil servants in Nigeria. This is a commendable step that, if properly implemented, will go a long way in fishing out those who falsified their qualifications to secure employment or promotions in the civil service.

However, the ongoing verification exercise should not stop with civil servants alone. The Federal Government must extend this probe to all categories of public office holders like legislators, members of the executive, and even the judiciary. No arm of government should be exempted from scrutiny. The DSS and other relevant security agencies should be fully involved in this process, and clear timelines must be set to ensure that the exercise is thorough and not swept under the carpet.

If pursued with sincerity and firmness, this initiative could bring much-needed sanity to Nigeria’s public institutions. It would also serve as a powerful deterrent to those who may be tempted to forge documents in pursuit of public office. The time has come to tame this ugly trend once and for all. Public service should be a platform for integrity and competence, not deceit and forgery.

Nigeria deserves better leaders whose credentials, like their character, can withstand the test of scrutiny.

 Tochukwu Jimo Obi,jimobi83@gmail.com