Former Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Uche Nnaji’s resignation amid certificate forgery allegations has triggered widespread criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration and the Department of State Services (DSS) for alleged lapses in vetting before his appointment. Many Nigerians have also called for his prosecution.
Appointed by President Tinubu in August 2023, Nnaji was accused of submitting forged certificates during his ministerial screening. Premium Times reported that while Nnaji claimed to have graduated from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, the institution confirmed he never received a certificate. The report also alleged that his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate was forged.
Facing mounting public pressure, Nnaji tendered his resignation to the President on Monday, claiming he was being targeted by political opponents.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, confirmed the resignation in a statement posted on his official X handle.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has accepted the resignation of Geoffrey Uche Nnaji, the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, following some allegations against him.
President Tinubu appointed Nnaji in August 2023. He resigned today in a letter thanking the President for allowing him to serve Nigeria. Nnaji said he has been a target of blackmail by political opponents. President Tinubu thanked him for his service and wished him well in future endeavours,” Onanuga wrote.
The development has continued to generate mixed reactions, with opposition parties, civic groups, and citizens demanding accountability. Some commended the President for upholding integrity, while others accused the government of shielding allies from prosecution.
The ADC Vanguard praised Tinubu’s decision to accept the resignation, describing it as “a show of accountability when integrity is at stake.” However, the coalition urged the President to address lingering controversies surrounding his own academic records.
“However, Mr. President, Nigerians are watching and wondering: when will you lead by the same example? Allegations surrounding your certificate forgery have lingered without a clear resolution.
If accountability truly begins at the top, then the same standard applied to others must also apply to you. The strength of a leader lies not in silence but in the courage to confront truth,” the group said.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also waded into the controversy, describing Nnaji’s resignation as “proof of deep moral decay” within the Tinubu administration.
In a statement on his official X handle, Atiku condemned the DSS for failing to properly verify Nnaji’s credentials and criticised the government for allowing him to resign rather than face prosecution.
“Let the truth be told: Uche Nnaji should not have been allowed the courtesy of resignation. He should have been summarily dismissed and prosecuted for deceit and falsification. By permitting him to quietly exit through the back door, the Tinubu administration has once again demonstrated that it is an assembly of forgers, impostors, and morally bankrupt individuals masquerading as public servants.
What makes this even more embarrassing is that the same Department of State Services (DSS), which screened out Mallam Nasir el-Rufai for alleged ‘security concerns,’ is the very agency that cleared this same character, Uche Nnaji. The DSS truly deserves our flowers for this national disgrace,” Atiku said.
He added that the incident reflects a broader culture of deceit at the highest levels of government.
“This episode is not isolated. It is a reflection of a pattern, a rot that begins from the very top. The man who occupies the office of President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has for decades been enmeshed in controversies surrounding his identity, age, and academic records. From the Chicago State University saga to multiple contradictory claims under oath, the world has seen ample evidence that Nigeria today is led by a man who himself has been unable to credibly defend the authenticity of his own certificates.”
Atiku concluded that when leadership is built on questionable integrity, “deception becomes the standard of governance.”
Similarly, a social media user, @MezeAbia, condemned the government’s handling of the matter, stressing that forgery is a criminal offence in Nigeria.
“If Uche Nnaji has resigned in agreement that he forged his university and NYSC certificates, then we’re patiently waiting for the Nigeria Police and the Tinubu-led government to initiate criminal prosecution against him immediately.
I won’t be surprised if that doesn’t happen. Nigerian politicians who are in the President’s good books always get away with criminality. The law in Nigeria is like a cobweb that catches tiny flies while letting go of the big wasps,” he wrote.
Meanwhile, Nnaji’s resignation has reignited public debate on the integrity of public office holders and the credibility of Nigeria’s vetting processes. Many Nigerians are now questioning whether this case will mark a turning point in accountability or merely another episode in the country’s recurring cycle of scandals.
