Why I ‘Deliberately’ Skipped NYSC, Another Buhari Minister Exposed

Another minister appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari has been caught in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate scandal barely a week after Kemi Adeosun resigned her position as Minister of Finance.

An online medium, Premium Times had exposed Adeosun for allegedly forging her NYSC exemption certificate.

In a fresh investigation, the medium alleged that the Minister of Communication and Oyo State governorship aspirant, Adebayo Shittu, did not serve in the scheme after graduating from the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in 1978.

The minister had graduated when he was aged 25.

According to the NYSC Law, the service is mandatory for all Nigerians who have earned degrees or higher national diplomas from tertiary institutions in Nigeria and abroad (effective 1972/73 session).

Those who qualify for exemption are those who graduated after their 30th birthday, persons with national honours and those who serve in the Police Force and Nigerian Army for a period of nine months.

But Shittu, in a statement revealed that he believed that having been elected into the Oyo State House of Assembly, he needed not participate in the national service.

He said he deliberately skipped the NYSC scheme because he was convinced that his membership of the state assembly was itself a “service.”

“The constitution provides for the qualification needed for state assembly members, NYSC is not there.

“I didn’t need it to become a member of the state assembly, and that is already a service,” he said.