By Chinagorom Ugwu
Abuja — The certificate forgery scandal involving Nigeria’s Minister of Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, has snowballed into a national uproar, with furious citizens turning their anger not only on the embattled minister but also on the Nigerian Senate, which cleared him without proper scrutiny.
A painstaking two-year investigation by PREMIUM TIMES, published Saturday, revealed that both the bachelor’s degree and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate paraded by Mr. Nnaji were outright forgeries. In a startling admission, the minister himself reportedly conceded that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) never issued him a degree certificate — a revelation that has ignited outrage across the country.
Public Reactions: Outrage Boils Over
From Facebook walls to X (formerly Twitter) timelines, Nigerians vented their anger at what many described as a betrayal of public trust and a mockery of merit.
A Facebook user, Ugo Egbujo, lashed out:
> “Nnaji needs to confront the story by PREMIUM TIMES. Silence is not golden.”
On X, user Kayode Abraham linked the scandal to Nigeria’s governance failures:
> “This shows criminals now work everywhere in government. That’s why we keep having policy somersaults, ineffectiveness, and non-performance. Poverty and penury of the masses is the result.”
Another user, Brendan Champion, who claimed to be a graduate of UNN, was enraged:
> “I can’t be carrying my original UNN degree and doing multiple jobs to survive, while someone is allegedly parading a fake one and accessing billions. He should resign immediately.”
For many Nigerians, the scandal confirms their worst fears about the integrity of government appointees.
Critics are now directing fire at the Senate for enabling the scandal. When President Bola Tinubu nominated Nnaji in July 2023, lawmakers waved him through without meaningful scrutiny, relying on their infamous “take a bow and go” tradition.
Analysts argue that even a basic verification process would have exposed the forged certificates. Instead, lawmakers rubber-stamped his confirmation, opening the door for one of the most embarrassing credibility crises of Tinubu’s young administration.
“This scandal is not just about one man’s deception; it is about institutional negligence,” said governance expert Dr. Femi Aluko. “When the Senate treats ministerial screening as a political ritual rather than a constitutional duty, Nigeria pays the price.”
Dayo Aiyetan, Executive Director of the International Centre for Investigative Reporting, described the episode as “a shameful indictment” of the legislature.
> “This is not a mistake; it’s systemic negligence. If the Senate cannot scrutinise nominees properly, then Nigeria is in bigger trouble than we imagine. President Tinubu must not only sack this rogue minister but ensure he is arrested and prosecuted.”
Other angry Nigerians echoed the sentiment, branding the Senate “accomplices” in the forgery scandal. One user wrote:
> “Why blame only the minister? The Senate enabled this fraud by refusing to do its job. They too should be held accountable.”
The scandal has now become one of the biggest tests of President Tinubu’s resolve to enforce accountability in his government. While Nigerians are demanding Nnaji’s immediate sack and prosecution, they are also watching to see whether the presidency will overhaul the flawed screening system that allowed him into the cabinet.
Failure to act decisively, analysts warn, could embolden more fraudulent appointees and further erode public trust. But firm action could restore confidence and signal that Tinubu’s administration is serious about integrity in public office.
For now, both the minister and the Senate remain in the dock, as Nigerians demand accountability at every level of government.
PIONEER NEWS 