—As Presidency Confirms Resignation
Tayo Olanipekun
The Presidency said it has accepted the resignation of the Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun, and that the Minister of State Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, has been appointed to oversee the Ministry of Finance with effect from today.
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, made this known Friday night through a statement which contained the copy of Adeosun’s resignation letter.
According to the former Minister, her decision to quit the plump job was because investigation has now revealed that the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) Exemption Certificate she presented to the Presidency and previously to the Ogun State Government was fake.
“I become privy to the findings of the investigation into the allegation made in an online medium that the Certificate of Exemption from National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) that I had presented was not genuine. This has come as a shock to me and I believe that in line with this administration’s focus on integrity, I must do the honourable thing and resign,” said Adeosun in the statement.
This followed speculations by members of the public and denials by the former Minister’s aide earlier on Friday when news made the rounds that Adeosun had resigned.
Outlining some of the background to this matter, she said her upbringing was in the United Kingdom where she lived the first 34 years of her life and that upon inquiry when she came to Nigeria, some “trusted associates” said she was exempted from the requirement to serve.
The same associates, it was, that approached the NYSC on her behalf for documentary proof of status.
According to her, “with the guidance and assistance of those, I thought were trusted associates, NYSC were approached for documentary proof of status. I then received the certificate in question.”
Adeosun also declared: “Indeed, I presented that certificate at the 2011 Ogun State House of Assembly and in 2015 for Directorate of State Services (DSS) Clearance as well as to the National Assembly for screening. Be that as it may, as someone totally committed to a culture of probity and accountability I have decided to resign with effect from Friday, 14th September, 2018.”
Adeosun did not fail in her letter to identify discipline in the nation’s finances, growth of the economy and the exit from recession as some of Nigeria’s achievements under her stewardship.