Another minister serving in President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet has been found to have skipped the mandatory national youth service scheme, an offence that may see him lose his position and earn him jail term.
This revelation comes barely one week after Kemi Adeosun resigned her position as the Finance Minister over an alleged forgery of her NYSC exemption certificate.
The Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, failed to participate in the NYSC scheme despite graduating from the then University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) at age 25, PREMIUM TIMES reports.
Investigations showed that the minister did not undergo the service since then and when contacted, he said he thought his first political post could serve as national service.
“The constitution provides for the qualification needed for state assembly members, NYSC is not there,” the minister said.
“I didn’t need it to become a member of the state assembly, and that is already a service.”
Not serving the country under the NYSC is an offence punishable with up to 12 months imprisonment.
The service is a requirement for employment in government and private establishments for Nigerians who graduated before 30, both home and abroad.