A coalition of activists under the banner of the Concerned Citizens Leadership Integrity and Transparency Advocacy Initiative (CLITA) has reignited protests in Abuja, demanding the resignation and investigation of Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo over alleged discrepancies in his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate.
The protest, which began at the NYSC headquarters in Maitama before moving to the gates of the National Assembly, was led by CLITA convener Davies Ijele. Supporters joined him in calling for accountability and equal application of the law to all public officials. According to Ijele, the government’s handling of Tunji-Ojo’s NYSC issue reflects selective justice, especially when compared to past cases where officials were forced to resign over similar controversies.
Speaking to journalists at the National Assembly, Ijele criticised what he described as inconsistency and discrimination in the government’s approach to certificate scandals. He argued that allowing the Interior Minister to remain in office despite unresolved questions about his NYSC documentation undermines public confidence in the rule of law and raises doubts about whether the same standards apply to all public servants.
The controversy stems from questions surrounding the circumstances under which Tunji-Ojo’s NYSC certificate was issued. Media investigations and NYSC responses indicate that he was initially mobilised for national service in 2006 but absconded, later remobilised in 2019, and eventually issued a discharge certificate in 2023 after administrative delays. Critics have questioned how he could serve as a member of the House of Representatives while allegedly completing NYSC obligations, suggesting possible procedural irregularities.
Civil society organisations, including CLITA, are urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to direct oversight bodies such as the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and anti-corruption agencies to conduct an independent and transparent investigation. They argue that only a thorough probe can either clear lingering doubts or hold wrongdoers accountable. Failure to act, they warn, could damage the credibility of Nigeria’s democracy and undermine ongoing anti-corruption reforms.
This latest protest adds to mounting pressure on the government to address certificate controversies with consistency, as activists insist that selective justice erodes trust in public institutions and weakens Nigeria’s democratic foundations.