By Nneka Ibe
The Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, has resigned from President Bola Tinubuโs cabinet amid allegations of certificate forgery that have sparked national outrage in recent days.
Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed the development late Tuesday night, revealing that Nnaji tendered his resignation earlier in the day and that President Tinubu has accepted it. The President, according to Onanuga, commended the former minister for his contributions to national development and assured that a replacement would soon be announced to ensure continuity in the ministryโs activities.
Though details of the forgery allegations remain unclear, sources close to the presidency disclosed that the controversy was triggered by inconsistencies found in Nnajiโs academic credentials submitted before his ministerial screening. Reports from an investigative news platform allegedly uncovered discrepancies in his university certificate, raising doubts about its authenticity.
Following the publication, several civil society organizations and opposition figures demanded his immediate resignation and an independent probe into the matter. The scandal, they argued, had become a major distraction for the Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology, and threatened the Tinubu administrationโs commitment to integrity and accountability.
In his resignation letter, which has not yet been made public, Nnaji was said to have cited โpersonal reasonsโ and a desire to โprotect the image of the governmentโ as his motive for stepping down. However, insiders hinted that the decision followed intense consultations with senior aides and top government officials, who advised him to resign in order to quell the controversy.
Appointed in August 2023, Nnaji, a politician and businessman from Enugu State, spearheaded several initiatives aimed at boosting indigenous innovation, scientific research, and technology-driven economic growth. However, his tenure was marked by mixed reviews, with critics accusing him of poor stakeholder engagement and slow implementation of key projects.
Political commentators say Nnajiโs resignation represents a major test of the Tinubu governmentโs anti-corruption stance. Dr. Amina Yusuf, a political analyst at the University of Abuja, described the move as โa reflection of growing public pressure for integrity in governance.โ
> โThis is a defining moment for the administration,โ Yusuf noted. โIt will be judged by how transparently it handles this case and future appointments.โ
Meanwhile, the Civil Society Coalition Against Corruption (CSCAC) has urged the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to open a full investigation into the forgery claims, insisting that resignation alone is not enough.
> โPublic office holders must be held accountable for their actions,โ the group said in a statement. โNigerians deserve clarity
