With Nigerians still grappling with the resignation of former Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun, over the allegation of forging her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate, another senior minister in President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet has been busted for evading the scheme.
According to reports, Communications minister, Adebayo Shittu — famous for distributing President Buhari’s re-election caps during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting — did not present himself for the mandatory one-year NYSC scheme.
Skipping the compulsory national service is an offence under the NYSC law, punishable with up to 12-month imprisonment.
“Months of discreet checks at the NYSC headquarters showed that the communications minister did not present himself for service after graduation and is yet to do so till date,” the report said.
According to the report, the minister who was born on March 23, 1953, studied law at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife, graduating in 1978. He proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, Lagos, qualifying as a lawyer in 1979.
Having earned a bachelor’s degree at the age of 25, Section 2 of the NYSC Act expects Shittu to have participated in the year-long national service.
“Contacted Tuesday, Mr. Shittu admitted that he did not serve but claimed he thought his first political post after graduation could suffice as national service, a claim lawyers and NYSC insiders consider as ludicrous and untenable,” it added.
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