BudgIT: Adeosun poses a risk to the treasury if her NYSC certificate is fake

BudgIT Nigeria, a civic tech organisation, has asked Kemi Adeosun, minister of finance, to renounce the allegation of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) exemption certificate fraud or resign.

In a statement on Monday, Abiola Afolabi, spokeswoman of the organisation, said the minister posed a risk to the treasury with the alleged unauthentic documents which she has used to work in public institutions.

Premium Times had reported that Adeosun possesses a questionable NYSC exemption certificate.

Having finished her first degree at 22, she was not entitled to exemption on the ground of age except she was above 30, according to the NYSC Act.

She would also not be qualified for employment in either private or public sector having not served or been exempted.

Afolabi said the scandal is an example of gross misconduct within the cabinet of an administration that prides itself on integrity.

“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 someone with the 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 NYSC. 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. We call 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 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 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.”