By Okechukwu Nwanguma
When the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, tendered his resignation three days after PREMIUM TIMES published a damning investigation exposing that he forged his university degree and NYSC certificates, it was more than a personal scandal.
It was an indictment of Nigeria’s broken governance system — a system that rewards deceit, tolerates impunity, and punishes integrity.
According to PREMIUM TIMES’ two-year investigation, corroborated by official responses from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), both institutions disowned the certificates Mr. Nnaji submitted to President Tinubu, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Senate during his ministerial confirmation.
The evidence was overwhelming: the documents were outright forgeries. Even Mr. Nnaji reportedly admitted that UNN never issued him a degree certificate.
Yet, despite these clear findings, the government’s response was disturbingly casual. The minister was “allowed” to resign – quietly, respectfully, as though he merely made a political misstep, not a criminal offence. The President thanked him for his “service” and wished him well. That singular act captures the essence of Nigeria’s moral collapse in public life.
Forgery Is Not a Private Matter
Forgery is not a private moral failing. It is a serious crime under Nigerian law, punishable by imprisonment. More than that, it is a betrayal of public trust. When an individual lies their way into public office using forged credentials, they not only defraud the state but also mock every honest citizen who earned their qualifications through hard work.
Allowing Mr. Nnaji to simply “resign” without investigation or prosecution sends a dangerous signal – that in Nigeria, the law bends to power and that accountability is optional for the politically connected. This is precisely why corruption thrives and why public institutions continue to decay.
Institutional Failure or Cover-Up?
This scandal raises deeper questions about the integrity of Nigeria’s vetting processes. The Department of State Services, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and the Senate all had opportunities to verify Mr. Nnaji’s credentials before confirming him as minister. How did they all fail?
It is inconceivable that these powerful institutions, equipped with resources and access to official records, could not detect what journalists discovered through open-source verification. This points either to gross negligence or a deliberate cover-up.
If the DSS verified the documents and still cleared him, that’s dereliction of duty. If they noticed discrepancies but looked away to please political masters, that’s complicity. Either way, the consequence is the same – an institutional failure that weakens the very fabric of governance and makes Nigeria an object of ridicule before the world.
As former Vice President Atiku Abubakar rightly noted, the DSS’s failure of due diligence is an embarrassment to the nation. It also raises a legitimate concern: how many more individuals with forged or dubious credentials currently occupy sensitive positions in this government?
A Culture of Impunity
The Nnaji saga is not an isolated case. It is part of a pattern – a symptom of a wider culture of impunity where dishonesty is normalised in leadership. When those at the highest levels of government have unresolved questions about their own records, what moral authority do they have to enforce accountability among their subordinates?
When the presidency turns a clear case of forgery into a “voluntary resignation,” it tells the public that the system protects its own – that integrity is negotiable and that deceit is survivable, even profitable.
Until Nigeria draws a line between right and wrong and enforces consequences for misconduct, the rot will deepen. Forgery today, embezzlement tomorrow, and outright state capture the day after – it’s a slippery slope that corrodes public confidence and kills hope in national renewal.
Restoring Integrity to Public Life
This moment offers Nigeria an opportunity to confront its moral decay. The government must demonstrate seriousness by ensuring that Mr. Nnaji is not only investigated but also prosecuted in accordance with the law.
Beyond that, there should be an independent and comprehensive audit of the academic and professional credentials of all political appointees – beginning with the highest office. Nigerians deserve to know who governs them.
Restoring integrity to public life requires more than rhetoric. It demands accountability, transparency, and the courage to enforce standards, no matter whose ox is gored. Leadership should be built on merit, not manipulation; on truth, not deception.
Until that happens, the Uche Nnaji scandal will remain yet another chapter in Nigeria’s long and shameful history of forgery, fraud, and the abuse of power.
Okechukwu Nwanguma
Executive Director, Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC)
