Adeosun speaks on resignation as Buhari names Zainab Ahmed in her place

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday accepted the resignation of Kemi Adeosun as minister of finance.

The president also approved that Zainab Ahmed, Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, oversee the ministry with immediate effect.

This was contained in a statement by Femi Adesina, media aide to the president.

In her resignation letter, the former minister thanked Buhari for giving her the opportunity to serve.

She explained the circumstances surrounding the forged National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate.

“Let me commence by thanking you profusely for the honour and privilege of serving under your inspirational leadership. It has been a truly rewarding experience to learn from you and to observe at close quarters your integrity and sense of duty,” she said.

Read also: FAYOSE TO FAYEMI: ‘Stop crying wolf’, you also signed a budget 1 month to handover

“I have, today, become privy to the findings of the investigation into the allegation made in an online medium that the Certificate of Exemption from National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) that I had presented was not genuine. This has come as a shock to me and I believe that in line with this administration’s focus on integrity, I must do the honourable thing and resign.

“Your Excellency, kindly permit me to outline some of the background to this matter. I was born and raised in the United Kingdom, indeed my parental family home remains in London. My visits to Nigeria up until the age of thirty-four (34) were holidays, with visas obtained in my UK passport. I obtained my first Nigerian passport at the age of thirty-four (34) and when I relocated there was debate as to whether NYSC Law applied to me.

“Upon inquiry as to my status relating to NYSC, I was informed that due to my residency history and having exceeded the age of thirty (30), I was exempted from the requirement to serve. Until recent events, that remained my understanding.”

 

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