NANS Urges DSS Boss Ajayi to Tackle Certificate Forgery as National Security Threat

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has urged the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, to extend his ongoing institutional reforms to confront the growing menace of certificate forgery in Nigeria’s public and political institutions.

In a statement signed by its Assistant Secretary General, Adejuwon Emmanuel, on Friday, the student body commended Ajayi for what it described as his “strategic and disciplined leadership” during his first year in office, saying his tenure has restored professionalism, morale, and institutional synergy within one of the country’s most sensitive security agencies.

NANS said Ajayi’s emphasis on meritocracy, transparency, and diversity in appointments had “redefined the Service as one that operates with quiet efficiency rather than unnecessary spectacle.”

“Within one year, the DSS has witnessed improved morale among personnel, enhanced coordination with other security agencies, and greater responsiveness to the complex security challenges confronting the nation,” the statement read.

However, the student association called on the DSS chief to prioritise what it described as a “morally critical national concern” — the rising wave of certificate forgery, which it said has continued to damage Nigeria’s image globally.

“Certificate forgery has become a national embarrassment that devalues genuine academic efforts, erodes public trust, and damages our image before the international community,” Emmanuel said.

NANS cited recent incidents, including the alleged forgery involving an official of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, and urged the DSS to treat such matters as national security threats rather than mere administrative infractions.

“The spread of falsified academic documents among public officials is a moral and institutional threat capable of infiltrating the highest levels of governance and policymaking,” Emmanuel warned.

The group referenced several past scandals, including the resignation of former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Salisu Buhari, in 1999; that of former Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, in 2018; and the recent resignation of a minister over certificate irregularities.

While noting that many of those cases occurred under previous administrations, NANS said the current DSS leadership should leverage its vetting and intelligence capabilities to strengthen the national verification system.

“The DSS should lead a coordinated national campaign against certificate forgery in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, JAMB, NYSC, and tertiary institutions,” the statement added.

NANS proposed a digitised verification platform to authenticate academic and professional credentials, stressing that offenders must be swiftly investigated and prosecuted.

“Every scandal involving fake credentials undermines the efforts of millions of students and graduates who earned theirs legitimately,” it said.

Commending Ajayi’s first-year performance, NANS said his reformist approach had “inspired confidence and stability” in the Service but emphasised that his lasting legacy would depend on how he addresses the integrity crisis.

“This next phase, where moral integrity meets national security, will determine the enduring legacy of Mr. Ajayi’s tenure. We urge him to make the fight against certificate forgery a national priority,” Emmanuel added.

The call comes amid renewed controversy over certificate racketeering in Nigerian higher institutions.

The debate intensified after former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, resigned earlier this month following allegations that he forged his Bachelor’s degree and National Youth Service Corps certificates.

Nnaji said his resignation was to protect his integrity and prevent distractions to the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.