Former Minister Uche Nnaji’s resignation amid certificate controversy has led Nigerians to criticise President Bola Tinubu’s administration and the Department of State Security for inadequate vetting before his appointment, with some calling for the Minister to be prosecuted.

The former minister, appointed by the president in August 2023, faced allegations of submitting forged certificates during his screening for the position.

Premium Times reported that Mr Nnaji, who claimed to have graduated from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, did not receive a certificate from the school. The investigation also found he forged his NYSC certificate during his job screening.

Following public demands, the former minister submitted his resignation to the President yesterday, alleging he was targeted by political opponents.

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, stated on his official X account yesterday that the President has accepted Mr Nnaji’s resignation letter in light of certain allegations brought against him.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has accepted the resignation of Geoffrey Uche Nnaji, the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, following some allegations against him.

President Tinubu appointed Nnaji in August 2023. He resigned today in a letter thanking the president for allowing him to serve Nigeria. Nnaji said he has been a target of blackmail by political opponents. President Tinubu thanked him for his service and wished him well in future endeavours,” Mr Onanuga wrote.

This development drew mixed reactions: some Nigerians, opposition parties, and citizens called for punishment of the former minister for breaking the law, while others praised the president for maintaining integrity in his administration.

The ADC Vanguard praised the president’s decision to accept the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology’s resignation, saying it demonstrates accountability in leadership when integrity is at stake.

The coalition questioned the president’s certificate, urging him to address controversies about his credentials and set a clear example.

The statement partly reads, “However, Mr. President, Nigerians are watching and wondering: when will you lead by the same example? Allegations surrounding your certificate forgery have lingered without a clear resolution.

If accountability truly begins at the top, then the same standard applied to others must also apply to you, Sir. The strength of a leader lies not in silence but in the courage to confront truth.”

Speaking on the matter, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar criticised President Tinubu’s administration and the resignation of one of his ministers, citing it as proof of what he described as a deep moral crisis in his government.

Atiku, via his official X handle, called the situation a national embarrassment, criticising the DSS for not properly verifying former minister Uche Nnaji’s certificates before his appointment and dismissing claims of voluntary resignation.

He stated that the former minister should have been dismissed and prosecuted for forgery rather than allowed to resign. Alhaji Atiku also called for a thorough investigation and prosecution regarding the issue.

“Let the truth be told: Uche Nnaji should not have been allowed the courtesy of resignation. He should have been summarily dismissed and prosecuted for deceit and falsification. By permitting him to quietly exit through the back door, the Tinubu administration has once again demonstrated that it is an assembly of forgers, impostors, and morally bankrupt individuals masquerading as public servants.

“What makes this even more embarrassing is that the same Department of State Services (DSS), which screened out Mallam Nasir el-Rufai for alleged “security concerns” is the very agency that cleared this same character, Uche Nnaji. The DSS truly deserves our flowers for this national disgrace. Their failure of due diligence has made Nigeria an object of ridicule before the world and raises the question: how many more such individuals are occupying sensitive positions in this government?

“This episode is not isolated. It is a reflection of a pattern, a rot that begins from the very top. The man who occupies the office of President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has for decades been enmeshed in controversies surrounding his identity, age, and academic records. From the Chicago State University saga to multiple contradictory claims under oath, the world has seen ample evidence that Nigeria today is led by a man who himself has been unable to credibly defend the authenticity of his own certificates.

“When a man of questionable identity leads a country, deception becomes the standard of governance. Tinubu’s personal history of alleged forgery and perjury has effectively institutionalised falsehood in public service. It is, therefore, unsurprising that his ministers and aides have taken after his example by falsifying documents, inflating records, and desecrating the moral foundation of our nation.”

Also reacting to the development, @MezeAbia on his official X handle said “Forgery is a criminal offence in Nigeria. So, if Uche Nnaji has resigned in agreement that he forged his university and NYSC certificates, then we’re patiently waiting for the Nigeria Police and the Tinubu-led government to initiate a criminal prosecution against him immediately.

I won’t be surprised if that doesn’t happen, the reason being that Nigerian politicians who are in the president’s good books always get away with criminality. They even get away with murder.

I keep saying that the law in Nigeria is like a cobweb that catches tiny flies while letting go of the big wasps – a different stroke for different folks kind of arrangement.”

Meanwhile,  Mr Uche Nnaji’s resignation over the allegations of forgery has raised lots of questions on the legitimacy of the country’s office holders, raising scepticism on whether or not this will become a turning point in how appointees are screened, verified, and held publicly accountable or just another flashpoint in Nigeria’s recurrent scandal cycle.

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