By Akinrinlola Olumide

Due to his increasing popularity and alleged aspirations to become the next Governor of Ondo State, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Minister of Interior, has found himself the target of daily attacks and blackmail from a factional leader of a group within the ruling All Progressives Congress in Ondo State.

This faction, which has strayed from its original mandate of campaigning for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election, is now engaged in spreading misinformation on social media to discredit Ojo’s reputation concerning his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate. Their claims and daily propaganda are often unsubstantiated and cannot be traced back to any credible news outlet in Nigeria.

After viewing a misleading video released by their new contractor yesterday, I felt compelled to write this piece—not to defend Ojo, but to inform Nigerians who may be unaware that an NYSC certificate is not a requirement for holding public office.

Except in cases of forgery, there is no law in Nigeria that disqualifies anyone from public office for lacking an NYSC certificate. Often, we perpetuate misconceptions for years, erroneously believing them to be correct until someone challenges them in court.

Historically, many competent politicians in Nigeria, particularly those educated abroad, have faced exclusion from public office due to controversies surrounding their NYSC certificates. This issue persists because no one has challenged it in court until Kemi Adeosun, the former Minister of Finance, contested her removal over this very matter.

To clarify, the Federal High Court ruled in 2021 that Kemi Adeosun did not require an NYSC certificate or an exemption letter to hold a ministerial position, as the Constitution does not mandate it for political office. The court emphasised the distinction between political appointments and other forms of employment. While forgery remains a criminal act, the court has established that an NYSC certificate is not a constitutional barrier to political appointments in Nigeria.

In the case of Tunji Ojo, allegations have been made that he forged his NYSC certificate, and calls for his removal have ensued. However, the NYSC has publicly stated that Ojo did not forge his certificate, confirming its authenticity in an official letter to Premium Times.

Another controversy has arisen regarding the claim that he cannot be a member of the National Youth Service Corps while also serving as a member of the House of Representatives. However, as of now, no law in Nigeria prohibits public officials from fulfilling their NYSC obligations while in office. After conducting three weeks of investigations and inquiries, I stand corrected in stating that serving as a corps member while holding public office is not illegal. Detractors ought to specify the law that bars anyone from doing so.

Regarding remobilisation, particularly for those who absconded after camp or did not complete their NYSC, they must apply for remobilisation directly through the official NYSC portal when it opens, not through their educational institutions. They will need to reapply on the portal and provide reasons for their initial discontinuation of the programme. I believe this information satisfies the concerns raised. Those pursuing Ojo over his NYSC certificate are merely chasing shadows.

If a president only needs to prove that he has completed secondary education to assume office, why should an NYSC certificate present an issue for educated Nigerians who are appointed to serve by the same president who does not even need NYSC to become president?

To be clear, the Constitution of Nigeria does not mandate an NYSC certificate for political office. Tunji Ojo, or any other individual in Nigeria, does not require an NYSC certificate to serve as a minister.

No one can be denied public office in Nigeria for lacking an NYSC certificate, and no competent public official should be removed from office for this reason because it is a settled matter by the court.

Olumide, the publisher of Starnews NG, writes from Canada.