The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticized the Presidency for what it described as the mishandling of a matter of public trust, following the resignation of former Minister Uche Nnaji amid controversy over his academic qualifications.
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party accused the Presidency of treating a serious issue of integrity as a private affair, thereby undermining public confidence in the government’s commitment to accountability and transparency.
The ADC faulted President Bola Tinubu’s decision to accept Nnaji’s resignation without ordering a formal investigation into the allegations regarding his academic and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificates, which came under scrutiny during his ministerial screening.
According to the statement, allowing Nnaji to quietly exit office without clarification only raises further doubts about the government’s sincerity in upholding ethical standards.
“The decision of President Tinubu to merely accept the former minister’s resignation instead of taking a firmer stance gives the unfortunate impression that the Presidency is not setting the right example on integrity.
“We are concerned that the minister was allowed to resign quietly after questions were raised about his credentials. This sends the wrong message to Nigerians, especially the youth, that issues of integrity are not treated seriously in government,” the statement read.
The ADC warned that such a precedent could weaken public trust and discourage young Nigerians from valuing honesty and accountability in public life.
