The Presidency has declared that the NYSC certificate scandal involving the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun was not a case of corruption as being insinuated by the general public.
This was made known by the Presidential spokesperson Mr. Femi Adesina during an interview on Channels Television Programme, Sunrise Daily.
Kemi Adeosun was alleged to have forged a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate according to an investigation by an online newspaper, Premium Times.
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The news generated an emotional National discourse regarding the matter with many asking the Presidency to make a comment on the matter which it declined to do until now.
While several notable Nigerians called for the removal of the finance minister because of the NYSC certificate scandal, Professor Itse Sagay, chairman of Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) had said the minister should not be sacked because according to him, the finance minister was good at her job.
He further claimed it was irrelevant whether she did the mandatory youth service or not because of her ‘sterling’ performance as minister of finance.
While speaking on Channels Television however, Mr. Femi Adesina, noted that while the NYSC certificate scandal did not amount to an act of corruption by the Minister, Professor Irtse Sagay’s comments were his personal opinion and not the stance of the President.
According to Mr. Adesina;
‘It was a personal comment, that is not the position of the Government and Professor Sagay has a right to his opinion. It will not be down the aisle of Professor Sagay to advise on that matter because it is not a corruption matter so to speak.”
The NYSC is a mandatory one year of National Service undertaken by all Nigerian Graduates after tertiary education.
Section 13 of the NYSC law prescribes punishment for anyone who absconds from the scheme or forges its certificates, while eligible Nigerians who skipped the service are liable to be sentenced to 12 months imprisonment and/or N2, 000 fine.
There is also a prescribed three-year jail term or option of N5, 000 fine for anyone who contravenes the provision of the NYSC law as Kemi Adeosun is alleged to have done.