Nigeria’s Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology, Uche Nnaji, has urged to resign for a full investigation by the appropriate security and regulatory agencies over an alleged certificate forgery scandal.

The call was made by the Global Gender Safety & Moral Development (GGSMD), in a statement yesterday.

Its Executive Director, Godwin Erheriene, recalled that in 2018, a Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Kemi Adeosun, resigned over the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate.

Erheriene pointed out that it would not be out of place for Nnaji to step aside to protect the integrity of government institutions and to reduce further national embarrassment.

“In the light of these developments, and in the interest of upholding the rule of law and public confidence in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s anti-corruption agenda, GGSMD demands that the Honourable Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology:

“Tender his immediate resignation; Submit himself to the relevant security agencies for a prompt and transparent investigation into the authenticity of his qualifications; and

“Cooperate fully with any inquiry or verification process so that the truth is established without any delay instead of rushing to the court to waste the time of the judge and also waste taxpayers’ money trying to defend something you know is fake,” he said.

He declared that, “If these steps are not taken, GGSMD will have no option but to exercise its constitutional rights to peaceful protest at the Federal Ministry of Science, Innovation and Technology to press for accountability.

“We urge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure that this matter is handled with the utmost transparency, fairness, and urgency. If the government is serious about fighting corruption and preserving the integrity of public office, no member of the cabinet should be immune from scrutiny.” (Daily Sun, excluding headline)