Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, who has been dragged over reports of not undergoing the mandatory one-year NYSC program, has reacted to the report.
The Minister of Communications who reacted to the Premium Times’ report of never participating in the mandatory one-year NYSC service, said he served in the Oyo stateHouse of Assembly shortly after graduation from University at age 25 and that should suffice for NYSC certificate.
“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
The revelation about Mr. Adebayo Shittu, who is currently angling to become Oyo State governor, is coming to light about a week after Kemi Adeosun was compelled to step down from her post as Nigeria’s finance minister after it was reported that she skipped national service, and then procured a fake exemption certificate to cover her tracks.
However it should be noted that Section 12 of the NYSC Act, mandates all employers to demand the national service certificate of prospective employees before hiring. Section 12 of the Act reads:
“For the purposes of employment anywhere in the Federation and before employment, it shall be the duty of every prospective employer to demand and obtain from any person who claims to have obtained his first degree at the end of the academic year 1973-74 or, as the case may be, at the end of any subsequent academic year the following:-
a. a copy of the Certificate of National Service of such person issued pursuant to section 11 of this Decree
b. a copy of any exemption certificate issued to such person pursuant to section 17 of this Decree
c. such other particulars relevant there to as may be prescribed by or under this Decree.”
Section 13 of the Act also criminalises skipping the national service as it prescribes 12 months imprisonment or fine of N2,000 or both, for such offenders.
