Adeosun’s certificate: SERAP gives NYSC 7 day-ultimatum

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project yesterday asked Brigadier-General Sule Kazaure, Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, to provide information on specific details and documents on the exemption certificate granted the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun.

In the FOI request dated August 2, 2018 and signed by SERAP deputy director, Timothy Adewale, the organization asked Kazaure to clarify whether the NYSC actually granted Adeosun the certificate and the circumstances.

A recent report alleged that the minister skipped the mandatory national youth service and forged her exemption certificate.

“SERAP is concerned about the perceived lack of transparency and accountability of the NYSC management and leadership in this matter, which has seriously undermined public trust and confidence in the NYSC as a public institution established to serve the public interests.

“SERAP notes that following allegations of NYSC Exemption Certificate forgery against Mrs Adeosun, the NYSC management issued a statement confirming that she did apply for an Exemption Certificate and promising to ‘investigate the origin of the purported Exemption Certificate in question.

“However, we are concerned that the statement lacks specificity as to whether Mrs Adeosun was issued the Exemption Certificate. Further, although the statement was issued on 9 July 2018, the NYSC management has so far failed and/or neglected to publish the outcome of the investigation it promised. Nigerians are also entitled to the right to truth derived from the obligations of the government and its institutions to carry out an investigation into allegations of issues like forgery that have been levelled against Mrs Adeosun,” SERAP said.