Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, Friday accepted the
resignation of the Hon. Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, over alleged
certificate forgery, reports ITREALMS.
He also thanked the Minister for her services to the nation
and wished her well in future pursuits, and consequently approved that the
Minister of State Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, should
oversee the Ministry of Finance with immediate effect.
This was confirmed to ITREALMS
by Mr. Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity, late Friday, September
14, 2018.
ITREALMS also
gathered that Mrs. Adeosun had said in her resignation letter dated same day
and made available to ITREALMS, acknowledged
she resigned due to alleged forged Certificate of Exemption from National Youth
Service Corp (NYSC) obtained for her when she relocated to Nigeria and equally presented
same as genuine, unknown to her.
While describing the revelation by media as a shock, Adeosun
believed that in line with this administration’s focus on integrity, “I must do
the honourable thing and resign.”
Below is the full text of Mrs Adeosun’s resignation letter.
"14th September, 2018
His Excellency
Muhammadu Buhari
President, Federal Republic of Nigeria
State House
Aso Villa
Abuja
Dear Excellency,
Let me commence by thanking you profusely for the honour and
privilege of serving under your inspirational leadership. It has been a truly
rewarding experience to learn from you and to observe at close quarters your
integrity and sense of duty.
I have, today, become privy to the findings of the
investigation into the allegation made in an online medium that the Certificate
of Exemption from National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) that I had presented was
not genuine. This has come as a shock to me and I believe that in line with
this administration’s focus on integrity, I must do the honourable thing and
resign.
Your Excellency, kindly permit me to outline some of the
background to this matter. I was born and raised in the United Kingdom, indeed
my parental family home remains in London. My visits to Nigeria up until the
age of thirty-four (34) were holidays, with visas obtained in my UK passport. I
obtained my first Nigerian passport at the age of thirty-four (34) and when I
relocated there was debate as to whether NYSC Law applied to me. Upon enquiry
as to my status relating to NYSC, I was informed that due to my residency
history and having exceeded the age of thirty (30), I was exempted from the
requirement to serve. Until recent events, that remained my understanding.
On the basis of that advice and with the guidance and
assistance of those, I thought were trusted associates, NYSC were approached
for documentary proof of status. I then received the certificate in question.
Having never worked in NYSC, visited the premises, been privy to nor familiar
with their operations, I had no reason to suspect that the certificate was
anything but genuine. Indeed, I presented that certificate at the 2011 Ogun
State House of Assembly and in 2015 for Directorate of State Services (DSS)
Clearance as well as to the National Assembly for screening. Be that as it may,
as someone totally committed to a culture of probity and accountability I have
decided to resign with effect from Friday, 14th September, 2018.
Your Excellency, It has been an exceptional privilege to
have served our nation under your leadership and to have played a role in
steering our economy at a very challenging time. I am proud that Nigeria has
brought discipline into its finances, has identified and is pursuing a path to
long term sustainable growth that will unlock the potential in this great
economy. Under your leadership, Nigeria was able to exit recession and has now
started to lay the foundations for lasting growth and wealth creation.
Repositioning this huge economy is not a short term task and there are no short
cuts, indeed there are tough decisions still to be made but I have no doubt
that your focus on infrastructural investment, revenue mobilisation and value
for money in public expenditure will deliver growth, wealth and opportunity for
all Nigerians.
I thank His Excellency, the Vice President and my colleagues
in the Federal Executive Council for the huge pleasure and honour of working
with them. I also thank most specially, the team in the ‘Finance Family’ of
advisers and heads of agencies under the Ministry of Finance. Your Excellency,
this group of committed Nigerians represent a range of backgrounds, ethnicities
and ages. They have worked well above and beyond the call of duty to support me
in the tasks assigned. The diversity in my team and their ability to work
cohesively to deliver reforms, convinces me that Nigeria has the human capital
required to succeed.
Your Excellency, let me conclude by commending your patience
and support, during the long search for the truth in this matter. I thank you
again for giving me the honour of serving under your leadership, it is a rare
privilege, which I do not take for granted. As a Nigerian and committed
progressive, I appreciate you for your dogged commitment to improving this
nation.
Please be assured, as always, of my highest regards and best
wishes
Kemi Adeosun (Mrs)"
Chuks Egbune/GEE
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