President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to keep Uche Nnaji, the Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, in his cabinet despite shocking disclosures that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) have both rejected the credentials he submitted to be appointed is not surprising, according to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party’s national publicity secretary, said in a statement released Monday in Abuja that the Tinubu administration’s silence was evidence of its “ample tolerance for corruption of all kinds.”
The ADC claimed that appointing a man “tainted with dubious credentials” to lead such a crucial ministry was a huge disservice to the nation, which is home to many capable and respectable citizens.
“The Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Mr. Uche Nnaji, has been accused and has since acknowledged that the certificates he presented were not issued by the relevant institutions and may have been forged. The ADC is not surprised that he is still in office despite growing evidence and public outcry.”
The party accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of fostering a culture of dishonesty and moral compromise, pointing out that this was not a unique instance.
We observe that this is not a unique instance. The APC government has a lengthy, well-known history of controversies involving certificates and dubious academic assertions made by senior officials. The party stated that these frequent scandals and the lingering smell of certificate fraud do, in fact, represent a party that is blatantly tolerant of dishonesty and obviously unconcerned with fundamental ethical principles.
Court filings reveal that Nnaji himself acknowledged that UNN never awarded him a degree certificate, and the ADC cited reliable evidence verifying that both UNN and NYSC had formally rejected the certifications Mr. Nnaji produced.
The president’s choice to retain the minister in office in spite of the controversy was questioned morally by the opposition party.
“Every Nigerian is now asking the same straightforward question: why is the Tinubu administration still maintaining the minister in office if he is not honorable enough to step down? The Tinubu administration and the APC are mocking their claims to be fighting corruption by failing to take action, the party stated, acknowledging their involvement in such dishonest behavior at the top levels of their government.
The ADC asserts that no government can be considered credible if its officials are corrupted by dishonesty and forgery.
The integrity of the individuals chosen or selected to lead a government is the first step towards establishing its credibility, according to the ADC. A government composed of individuals who have lied under oath about their qualifications is not one that Nigerians can be expected to trust, the statement said.
The party bemoaned how the dubious qualifications of its head had tarnished the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation, a strategic organization designed to promote research and innovation.
“In this case, a ministry whose mission is to promote innovation, research, and knowledge advancement is now tarnished by the questionable beliefs of the individual that President Tinubu has deemed qualified to lead it. This is very regrettable, but it also shows how morally bankrupt this APC government is and how little it values honesty and education,” the statement read.
The ADC emphasized that despite Nigeria’s abundance of talented individuals with proven track records of skill and diligence, the APC government still rewards incompetence and dishonesty.
“In every area of human endeavor, both domestically and internationally, our nation is endowed with bright minds who have earned their position via diligence, moral character, and distinction. However, this APC government could only find a man whose claim to higher education has now been called into question worthy of being appointed to such a vital ministry, or any ministry at all,” the statement read.
The ADC warned that certificate falsification is a crime that has to be treated with the full force of the law and demanded that Minister Nnaji be suspended immediately while an independent inquiry is conducted.
“The ADC demands that Minister Nnaji be suspended immediately while a thorough, impartial investigation is conducted. If convicted, he should be prosecuted fully for perjury and forgery in addition to being dismissed with shame. Forging a certificate is illegal and not a clerical error. It must be subject to the full force of the law if proven. The statement cautioned that the more the Tinubu administration puts off taking action, the more obvious it is that honesty and responsibility are out of its consideration as a leader.
