Sokoto Government Implements Unified Certificate of Origin Across All 23 LGAs

Table of Contents

1. Declaration of the Unified Certificate of Origin
2. Official Statement
3. Concerns About Inconsistencies
4. Purpose of the Unified Certificate
5. Government Directives
6. Emphasis on Compliance

The Sokoto State Government has announced that only the Unified Certificate of Origin/Indigene will be recognized as the official proof of origin across all 23 Local Government Areas of the state.

This directive was included in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Careers and Counselling Department, Cabinet Office, Aminu Bello Gwadabawa, on behalf of the Secretary to the State Government.

As stated in the announcement, the government is concerned about the ongoing inconsistencies in certificates of origin issued by various local councils. Gwadabawa pointed out that these discrepancies “undermine the State Government’s efforts to standardize documentation and jeopardize the integrity, credibility, and reliability of official records concerning citizenship and indigene verification.”

The unified certificate was introduced as a single, harmonized document “to prevent the distribution of forged or unverified attestations, streamline identification processes, and ensure consistency in matters related to employment, scholarships, admissions, recruitment, and other official engagements,” the statement continued.

The government has instructed all federal and state ministries, departments, parastatals, boards, commissions, military and paramilitary agencies, local government councils, schools, and tertiary institutions to accept only the new document.

Gwadabawa emphasized that the unified certificate “supersedes and replaces all previous versions issued by any Local Government Authority,” warning that individuals who fail to present the approved document “should, with due courtesy, not be processed or attended to for any official transaction that requires proof of origin.”

He urged heads of institutions, departments, and agencies to ensure strict adherence to this directive and to inform their staff accordingly.

Eze Chidiebere Paul

I'm dedicated to creating high-quality content that informs, inspires, and delights. If you have any questions or suggestions, don't hesitate to get in touch. Happy reading!