Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has raised alarm over what he described as a growing culture of dishonesty in Nigeria’s public service, warning that certificate forgery by government officials risks normalising crime across society.
His reaction follows a media report alleging that the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Uche Nnaji, admitted he never obtained a university degree, despite holding a certificate purportedly from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).
In a statement on Monday, Obi condemned the trend of certificate falsification among public officials and called for immediate prosecution of any person found guilty of forgery or false claims.
“Those who are supposed to be exemplary have become the very source of the nation’s decay,” Obi said, warning that when leaders model dishonesty, they “corrode the moral standards available to young Nigerians.”
University Disowns Minister’s Certificate
According to the investigative report, court documents filed before Justice Hauwa Yilwa of the Federal High Court, Abuja, revealed that UNN disowned the Bachelor of Science certificate presented by Minister Nnaji, stating that he did not complete his studies at the institution.
The report further alleged that the minister admitted in court that the university never issued him a degree certificate. Nnaji reportedly filed a lawsuit against several parties, including the Minister of Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC), UNN, its Vice-Chancellor Prof. Simon Ortuanya, Registrar, former Acting Vice-Chancellor Prof. Oguejiofor Ujam, and the university’s Senate.
Obi: “Forgery Destroys Credibility of Institutions”
Obi said that forgery by public officials weakens public trust and erodes the moral and legal fabric of society.
He criticized the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for failing to verify candidates’ academic credentials before elections and accused the Nigerian judiciary of trivializing serious criminal allegations.
“Though the laws are the same as in other countries where forgery is punished by immediate disqualification, INEC makes no effort to scrutinize certificates before elections, overlooks complaints, and when challenged after elections, courts dismiss these criminal acts as ‘pre-election matters,’” Obi lamented.
“Even after elections, INEC does not bother to revisit or investigate these serious offences before the next poll,” he added.
Call for Reform Ahead of 2027 Elections
Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, the former Anambra State governor proposed an electoral reform that would require all aspirants to submit their academic certificates to INEC immediately after party primaries for public verification.
“Our Electoral Act must be amended so that anyone intending to contest for any public office must submit all academic certificates to INEC at least six months before the election,” Obi stated.
He suggested that these certificates, including details of schools attended, courses studied, and duration, should be made public within 90 days for independent verification.
Obi further recommended extending this requirement to appointed officials, ministers, and aides, arguing that “dishonesty from the top spreads through all levels of governance.”
“Forgery Is Not a Pre-Election Matter – It’s a Crime”
Obi cautioned that treating forgery as a procedural issue rather than a criminal act encourages impunity.
“Criminal offences should not be dismissed as mere procedural matters,” he said. “We must end the era where forgery and deceit are rewarded with power. True leadership must begin with truth.”
He recalled lessons from his discussions with Indonesia’s electoral authorities, where candidates found guilty of falsifying academic qualifications are immediately disqualified and prosecuted.
Background: Growing Scrutiny of Public Officials
Nigeria has faced recurring controversies over forged or unverifiable academic credentials among public office holders. Several high-profile cases in recent years have raised concerns about lax institutional oversight and the erosion of ethical standards in public life.
Political analysts say Obi’s call reflects public frustration with the perceived tolerance of corruption and dishonesty in governance.
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