By Dipo Olowookere
Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Mr Suleiman Kazaure, has been summoned by federal government to explain what he knows about controversy over the Exemption Certificate tendered by the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, when she was nominated for the ministerial job in 2015 by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Since last Saturday, the issue has dominated the blogosphere and neither the presidency nor the Minister has spoken on the certificate saga.
The NYSC, which commented on the matter on Monday, only said Mrs Adeosun applied to be exempted from the scheme, but did not say if that request was eventually granted by the agency or not.
However, it said it would investigate the origin of the purported “fake certificate” being used by the Minister.
An online news platform, Premium Times, had reported at the weekend that the Minister forged her Exemption Certificate.
Addressing newsmen in Abuja yesterday, Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Mr Solomon Dalung, whose ministry controls NYSC, said he has summoned the DG over the matter.
Mr Dalung said until he was briefed on the issue, it would be unfair for him or government to speak on the controversy.
“Adeosun’s alleged certificate forgery? I just invited the DG of NYSC. I will listen to him on what exactly is going on the matter.
“Since the exemption certificate saga began, I have not been around. So, I am not in the true picture of what is actually going on. I can’t make a statement yet,” the Minister said.
He said further that, “If NYSC is truly investigating the matter, the DG will tell me. Only, then can the federal government take a stand and issue a statement. Since, I have not been briefed, it will be premature to say anything.”
