Nigeria’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, has resigned from his position following allegations that he forged his university and national service certificates. His resignation came just days after a major report by Premium Times claimed he submitted falsified documents during his ministerial appointment in 2023.
The two-year investigation alleged that Nnaji presented fake credentials to President Bola Tinubu as part of his screening documents. Confirming the news, Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga announced on X (formerly Twitter) that Nnaji had stepped down, quoting the minister as saying he had been “a target of blackmail by political opponents.”
Despite the public outcry, Nnaji denied all allegations, insisting that he indeed graduated from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) with a degree in Microbiology/Biochemistry. He described the claims as politically motivated attempts to destroy his reputation.
However, Premium Times reported that UNN officials said they found no record of Nnaji’s graduation in 1985, as he had claimed. A senior administrator reportedly confirmed that Nnaji was admitted in 1981 but never completed his program. This revelation intensified public scrutiny and raised questions about the vetting of government officials.
The matter worsened when the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) declared that Nnaji’s NYSC certificate could not be verified. The combined findings have reignited nationwide debates about honesty and accountability within Nigeria’s political class, with many citizens expressing disappointment at the recurring integrity scandals.
Opposition leader Atiku Abubakar has called for an independent investigation, arguing that the resignation alone isn’t enough. “Nigerians deserve to know the truth about those who preside over their lives and resources,” he wrote on X, adding that Nnaji should have been dismissed and prosecuted for deceit.
Nnaji’s exit adds another layer of controversy to President Tinubu’s administration, which has already faced several scandals involving senior officials. It also marks a rare event in Nigerian politics — a minister voluntarily stepping down amid controversy.
Since Tinubu took office in May 2023, Nnaji becomes only the second minister to leave office. Earlier this year, Betta Edu, the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, was suspended over corruption allegations, which she also denied. Under the previous administration of Muhammadu Buhari, only two ministers were dismissed in eight years, showing just how uncommon such resignations are.
In his resignation letter, Nnaji cited “malicious political persecution” as his reason for leaving but promised to continue serving Nigeria “in other capacities.” The Presidency has yet to name a replacement for the position of Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology.
