Finance Minister Adeosun bows out as Buhari accepts resignation letter
Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, has resigned from the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. This is even as President Buhari on Friday accepted the resignation of Adeosun and thanked the former Finance minister for her services to the nation and wished her well in her future pursuits.
The President also approved that the Minister of State Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, should oversee the Ministry of Finance with effect from today.
A statement made available on Friday night in Abuja by the Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, said “President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday accepted the resignation of the Hon. Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun.
The President thanked the Minister for her services to the nation and wished her well in her future pursuits.
“The President also approved that the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, should oversee the Ministry of Finance with effect from today (Friday).
Controversy had earlier trailed the resignation of Adeosun following a widespread rumour on social media and online platforms of some national dailies that she resigned her appointment on Friday.
It was frenzy around noon when the news broke out that the former minister had tendered her letter of resignation; the news went viral but no one got any confirmation on the allegation.
Our correspondent, who called the Ministry on Friday, confirmed that Adeosun was at the office working.
But a senior aide of the former minister who was not authorize to speak on the matter, said: “It is not true. You should notice that we have not spoken on this matter since July 7 when the issue of NYSC certificate broke.
“It is an agenda that they are pursuing and we will not help them to authenticate that. Í am here with you. You can also see the other aides and security details at their duty posts. Even the Minister is in her office right now carrying on with her work. Don’t mind them”.
The ministry’s Director of Information, Mr. Hassan Dodo, said he had no information concerning Adeosun’s resignation.
Another senior official, who would not want to be quoted, insisted, however, that “there is nothing like that”.
Soon after the news of the minister’s resignation went viral, many Nigerians started reacting on social media.
While some applauded her action and called it a dignified step, considering her lingering National Youth Service Corps certificate scandal, others called for her arrest and a refund of salaries received while in office.
Although she never responded to the allegations, there are speculations that the scandal was impacted negatively on President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
This is how Nigerians on Twitter reacted to the resignation of the Minister: Dr. Joe Abah (@DrJoeAbah): I have just received, with sadness, news that Kemi Adeosun has resigned. She is a talented, courageous woman who drove a lot of important reforms as Minister of Finance.
However, the NYSC saga had made her position untenable & the situation was only going to go from bad to worse. The (now former) Honourable Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun has resigned. This is the noble and dignified thing to do.
YourFavOnlineDoctor (@DrOlufunmilayo): We should be proud of her. It should have come earlier but it has come nonetheless. And considering this is a country where honour is rare, I’m proud of her.
Forgery is a criminal offence in Nigeria, the IG of @PoliceNG must immediately arrest and prosecute former minister of finance, @HMKemiAdeosun for forging NYSC certificate. PS: She also served as commissioner for finance in Ogun State with the same forged certificate.
Oluyemi Fasipe (@YemieFASH): Nigerians Don frustrate this woman Minister of finance Kemi Adeosun until she finally resigned. I trust Nigerians will still go ahead and say she must be arrested for NYSC forgery.
Shayor (@Shayor19)- NYSC CERTIFICATE SCANDAL: Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun finally resigns. I commend her! No sacred cows. So if the law comes for anyone tomorrow, please let them face the music.
Buhari’s sister (@DaminaboEric): The euphoria on Madam Kemi Adeosun (Hon. Minister of Finance) resignation is set ro overshadow the rage on Bichi’s (New DG, DSS) appointment.
ADÉGBÓYÈGA (@MrAdegboyega): Nooo! The Certificate Saga. She has towed the honourable lane. She will go down in History as Ex. Honourable Minister of Finance.
Kester Ozere (@Kestim_): The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun has resigned following the NYSC saga, that is a Noble thing to do.
Ọlákúnlé Abíọ́lá Sómóyè (@MrSomoye): It’s sad to see her gone but the Buhari Government is driven by moral suasion. I’m sure she’ll do exploits elsewhere.
Karo (@Karovoni): Buhari needs to appoint another Finance Minister ASAP. Finance ministry cannot be subjected to his sluggish way of making decisions.
Ugonna John Bosco (@ojombo4all): Adeosun Resigns! Too Late!! Guess where next finance minister would come from.
Okey Orisakwe (@OkeyOrisakwe): The resignation of the Finance Minister following the heated NYSC saga is another strong evidence that the power to entrench sanity in our polity lies in our hands as a people. Indeed, “vox populi vox dei”. May we extend this momentum to our jerry-built state of governance.
Below is the full text of Mrs. Adeosun’s resignation letter.
His Excellency
Muhammadu Buhari
President, Federal Republic of Nigeria
State House
Aso Villa
Abuja
Dear Excellency,
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.
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 enquiry 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.
On the basis of that advice and with the guidance and assistance of those, I thought were trusted associates, NYSC were approached for documentary proof of status. I then received the certificate in question.
Having never worked in NYSC, visited the premises, been privy to nor familiar with their operations, I had no reason to suspect that the certificate was anything but genuine.
Indeed, I presented that certificate at the 2011 Ogun State House of Assembly and in 2015 for Directorate of State Services (DSS) Clearance as well as to the National Assembly for screening.
Be that as it may, as someone totally committed to a culture of probity and accountability I have decided to resign with effect from Friday, 14th September, 2018.
Your Excellency, it has been an exceptional privilege to have served our nation under your leadership and to have played a role in steering our economy at a very challenging time.
I am proud that Nigeria has brought discipline into its finances, has identified and is pursuing a path to long term sustainable growth that will unlock the potential in this great economy.
Under your leadership, Nigeria was able to exit recession and has now started to lay the foundations for lasting growth and wealth creation.
Repositioning this huge economy is not a short term task and there are no short cuts, indeed there are tough decisions still to be made but I have no doubt that your focus on infrastructural investment, revenue mobilisation and value for money in public expenditure will deliver growth, wealth and opportunity for all Nigerians.
I thank His Excellency, the Vice President and my colleagues in the Federal Executive Council for the huge pleasure and honour of working with them.
I also thank most specially, the team in the ‘Finance Family’ of advisers and heads of agencies under the Ministry of Finance.
Your Excellency, this group of committed Nigerians represent a range of backgrounds, ethnicities and ages. They have worked well above and beyond the call of duty to support me in the tasks assigned.
The diversity in my team and their ability to work cohesively to deliver reforms, convinces me that Nigeria has the human capital required to succeed.
Your Excellency, let me conclude by commending your patience and support, during the long search for the truth in this matter.
I thank you again for giving me the honour of serving under your leadership, it is a rare privilege, which I do not take for granted. As a Nigerian and committed progressive, I appreciate you for your dogged commitment to improving this nation.
Please be assured, as always, of my highest regards and best wishes.
Kemi Adeosun (Mrs.)
