I’ll enrol for NYSC but only after becoming Oyo Governor— Shittu

Adebayo Shittu, Minister of Communications, says he will still participate in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme but only after becoming governor of Oyo State.

Shittu was exposed recently for skipping the mandatory service after graduating from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU) under 30 years of age.

He defended his decision, saying his election into the Oyo State House of Assembly upon graduation, sufficed as national service, a claim since debunked.

But in an interview with Edmund Obilo, an Ibadan-based journalist, the minister was open to still participating in the scheme.

He said he is willing to join fresh graduates in the scheme “if it becomes necessary”.

Asked if he is willing to still serve, Shittu replied, “Of course I will go. It will be a pleasant thing to go, after I have been governor by the grace of God.”

Read also: Implosion in Oyo APC as Akala announces boycott of guber primary

The minister, who was recently disqualified from the race for Oyo State governorship election on account of his non-participation in the scheme by the screening committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said he is willing to serve in any part of the country.

Obilo asked him, “what camp would you like to serve in?”, to which he responded: “Whichever camp. I will serve in any place if it becomes necessary for me to go. If it becomes necessary, I will.”

Shittu however insisted his political service trumps participating in the mandatory scheme.

“The courts would have to decide whether serving in the house of assembly and being minister is not superior and does not replace service in the NYSC,” he said.

“I am not Kemi Adeosun because I didn’t have any forged certificate of exemption. She didn’t forge, she was a victim of circumstance.”

 

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