A group of activists operating under the aegis of the Concerned Citizens Leadership Integrity and Transparency Advocacy Initiative (CLITA) has resumed protests in Abuja, calling for the resignation of the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, for alleged irregularities surrounding his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate.
The protest commenced at the NYSC headquarters in Maitama and later proceeded to the National Assembly complex. It was spearheaded by the convener of CLITA, Davies Ijele, alongside other supporters who demanded accountability and insisted that the law must be applied uniformly to all public office holders. Ijele maintained that the manner in which the Tunji-Ojo matter is being handled points to selective justice, particularly when viewed against previous instances where public officials stepped aside over similar certificate-related issues.
Addressing journalists at the National Assembly, Ijele faulted what he described as double standards and unfair treatment in the government’s response to certificate controversies. He argued that retaining the Interior Minister in office while questions surrounding his NYSC certificate remain unresolved weakens public trust in the rule of law and raises concerns about unequal enforcement of standards within the public service.
The controversy revolves around claims regarding how Tunji-Ojo’s NYSC certificate was obtained. Reports from media investigations and explanations from the NYSC suggest that he was first mobilised for national service in 2006 but allegedly did not complete it, was remobilised in 2019, and later issued a discharge certificate in 2023 following administrative processes.
Critics have raised concerns over how he reportedly served as a member of the House of Representatives during the period he was said to be completing his NYSC service, pointing to possible procedural lapses.
CLITA and other civil society groups are therefore calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to instruct relevant oversight institutions, including the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and anti-corruption agencies, to carry out a comprehensive and transparent investigation into the matter.
They insist that such an inquiry is necessary to either dispel lingering doubts or ensure accountability where violations are established. According to them, inaction could further erode public confidence in democratic governance and weaken ongoing anti-corruption efforts.
The renewed protest underscores growing pressure on the government to address certificate-related allegations with fairness and consistency, as activists warn that selective enforcement of the law undermines confidence in public institutions and Nigeria’s democratic system. [CITY POST; rejigged headline]
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