Yemisi Izuora
BudgIT asks Kemi Adeosun to renounce the allegations of NYSC Certification Fraud or Resign.
BudgIT Nigeria, a civic tech organisation, expresses disappointment at the silence of the
Honourable Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, over the allegations of NYSC certificate fraud.
In an investigative report released by Premium Times, Ms. Kemi Adeosun was accused of
skipping the compulsory one-year national youth service and presenting forged exemption
certification to the National Assembly. While many concerned citizens await a comprehensive
response from the government official, there has been no rebuttal from the accused and also no conclusive position from the National Youth Service Corps.
In a statement BudgIT said, “We also notice recent reports that the Honourable Minister released N10bn for the National
Assembly to settle liabilities, a fund that ended up in purchase of exotic vehicles for the
legislators. As an organization with interest in transparency and accountability, we believe it is
dangerous to put public funds in charge of a person that can be easily blackmailed by
individuals. We also accept that towards the 2019 elections, Nigeria needs to right character to
lead its Finance Ministry, considering how public treasury can be easily shortened to satisfy
political interests”.
The Buhari Administration has often opined its commitments to weed out corruption and other
related vices but we find the silence in antithesis to such disposition. We find the certificate saga
an indictment on the capability of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Department of State
Security, National Assembly and National Youth Service Corps. We affirm that Nigerian
institutions are being compromised on the altar on political expediency and the “Change”
mantra as advanced by the current governing party is gradually a trite phrase.
The current issue is an example of gross misconduct within the cabinet of an administration that
prides itself on integrity it said and called on President Buhari to take appropriate actIon regarding this
and also for the Honorable Minister to provide a response to the allegations. “Without a
convincing response to this ignoble situation, we call on Ms. Kemi Adeosun to resign from her
position as the Honorable Minister of Finance of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and accept the
consequences of her actions as stated in the law. We affirm Ms. Kemi Adeosun poses a risk to
the treasury with alleged unauthentic documents which she has used to function as the Ogun
State Commissioner of Finance and Honourable Minister of Finance. BudgIT looks forward to
expedited resolution of this matter”, the statement added.