Sh*cking Revelations: Ministers Caught In NYSC And Certificate Scandal Full List

The Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Uche Nnaji, has been drawn into a major certificate scandal after the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) denied awarding him the Bachelor of Science degree he claims to possess.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

An investigation by Premium Times revealed that UNN categorically stated that Nnaji never graduated from the institution. According to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, Nnaji was admitted in 1981 but failed to complete his programme.

The controversy deepened when the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) declared that the minister’s certificate of national service was “strange” and unverifiable, raising fresh doubts about his academic and professional credibility. This development has placed Nnaji at the heart of a scandal reminiscent of earlier certificate and NYSC controversies that have plagued Nigeria’s political elite.

Before Nnaji, several ministers had also faced scrutiny over questionable academic records and NYSC status:

1. Kemi Adeosun

The former Minister of Finance under President Muhammadu Buhari became the face of Nigeria’s most high-profile certificate scandal. Appointed in 2015, Adeosun was accused of presenting a forged NYSC exemption certificate dated 2009. Investigations revealed inconsistencies in the document, which bore the signature of a former NYSC Director-General who had already left office at the time.

Amid mounting public outrage, she resigned in September 2018, claiming she obtained the certificate “in good faith.” Though a Federal High Court in 2021 ruled she was not legally required to present an NYSC certificate, questions about her ethical accountability lingered.

2. Adebayo Shittu

The former Minister of Communications was accused of never participating in the mandatory NYSC scheme after graduating from the University of Ife (now OAU) in 1978. Unlike Adeosun, Shittu did not forge a certificate but admitted he never served, arguing that his election to the Oyo State House of Assembly was equivalent to “higher service.”

However, the NYSC Act makes no such provision, and at 25 years old when he graduated, he was legally required to serve. The controversy raised questions about constitutional loopholes and accountability in public office.

3. Hannatu Musawa

The current Minister of Art, Culture, and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, sparked controversy when it was alleged she was still serving as an NYSC corps member during her ministerial appointment in 2023. Critics argued this violated the NYSC Act, prompting lawsuits and public debate.

Though a Federal High Court dismissed the case for lack of standing, doubts remain about the propriety of her appointment while still undergoing national service.

4. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo

Now Minister of Interior, Tunji-Ojo faced allegations of presenting a forged NYSC discharge certificate during his 2023 ministerial screening. Reports claimed irregularities in his certificate, including timelines that overlapped with his legislative duties.

The NYSC later clarified that his certificate was authentic, explaining that he absconded during his initial mobilisation in 2006 but was remobilised in 2019, eventually completing the programme in 2023. Despite this, critics questioned how he could serve in public office while still regularising his NYSC obligations.

5. Stella Oduah

Former Minister of Aviation and senator, Oduah, has long been entangled in an NYSC scandal. The Corps revealed she was mobilised in 1982/83 but absconded, never completing her service. Despite this, she claimed completion in official documents and even filed affidavits supporting her claims.

In 2023, the EFCC charged her with forgery, perjury, and falsification of documents over her NYSC records. Though she denies the allegations, the matter remains before the courts, with NYSC maintaining that she never earned a discharge certificate.

From forged certificates to absconded service years, these scandals highlight the persistent challenges of integrity, transparency, and accountability in Nigeria’s public service—issues that continue to erode public trust in political leadership.

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