Nigerians have reacted with outrage to reports that the Minister of Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, allegedly forged the academic and service certificates he submitted during his ministerial screening in 2023.
The development has sparked widespread calls for his arrest, prosecution, and immediate removal from office.The controversy follows a detailed two-year investigation by Premium Times, which revealed that the certificates Mr. Nnaji presented to President Bola Tinubu and the Senate were falsified.
The report stated that both his degree from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate were fake.Allegations of forgery against Mr. Nnaji first surfaced in July 2023 when President Tinubu included him among the first batch of ministerial nominees.
Many Nigerians questioned his academic qualifications, with critics claiming that he never completed his university education. The latest findings have now fueled public anger and renewed debates about corruption and integrity in government appointments.
Public reactions on social media have been intense. Many citizens accused the minister of betraying public trust and described the case as another example of dishonesty in the political system. Some Nigerians demanded his resignation, saying he had no moral standing to remain in office after being exposed for submitting fake documents.
Others called for the Senate to be held accountable for failing to properly verify credentials during the screening process, noting that the practice of allowing nominees to “take a bow and go” encouraged such misconduct.
Several commentators also linked the alleged forgery to the larger problem of inefficiency and poor governance in the country. They argued that when unqualified individuals occupy key positions, it leads to poor policymaking and lack of progress in government institutions.
The minister reportedly admitted that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, did not issue him a degree certificate. Despite this, he continues to serve in his position, prompting public demands for President Tinubu to act swiftly by dismissing him and allowing the appropriate authorities to prosecute him for forgery.
The case has drawn fresh attention to the need for accountability among public office holders and stricter vetting of candidates before appointments.
As Nigerians continue to express their anger online and offline, many insist that the issue must not be swept under the carpet, warning that allowing it to go unpunished would deepen public distrust in government institutions