Protests erupted in Abuja as youths demanded the resignation of Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo over allegations surrounding his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate. The protesters, who marched to the NYSC office, claim the minister’s certificate is fake and he’s not qualified to hold public office .
The protest on Wednesday was led by Comrade Isaiah Davis Ijele, a civil society activist demands immediate resignation of the interior minister insisting that there should be no sacred cows in government office
The group have alleged that Tunji-Ojo’s National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate — presented when he was nominated and confirmed as a minister — contains irregularities or may be forged. This claim centers on questions about the timing of his NYSC mobilization, the late issuance of his discharge certificate, and whether all procedures were properly followed.
Tunji-Ojo’s service records, including claims that he was first mobilized into the NYSC in 2006, later absconded, and was then remobilised with discharge documentation ready only years later. NYSC and other agencies have responded to press queries, but details about the sequence of events are still points of debate.
The protesters explained that in early 2024, Dr. Betta Edu, then Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, was suspended by President Bola Tinubu amid allegations of financial misconduct involving the use of public funds — including directing a large transfer of government money to a private bank account linked to a staff member, which critics said violated public service rules.
A company named New Planet Project Limited was reported to have received approximately ₦438 million from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs for “consultancy services” under Betta Edu’s leadership.
The payment was improper and part of a broader misuse of public funds tied to Betta Edu’s ministry.
New Planet Project Limited was at one time co-founded by Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the minister of interior and his wife raising concerns about a conflict of interest.This matter also has since been swept under the carpet
These are the reasons the civil society hits the streets of Abuja to demand his suspension as no one is above the law .
The controversy surrounds Tunji-Ojo’s NYSC certificate, issued in 2023, despite him allegedly completing his service in 2020. Critics argue this is a clear case of forgery and abuse of power. The NYSC has confirmed the certificate’s authenticity, but protesters remain unconvinced, citing discrepancies in the certificate’s issuance date and signature .
The protest is part of a larger debate about accountability and transparency in government. Civil society groups are calling for an independent investigation into the matter, urging President Bola Tinubu to take action .
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