The deputy spokesman of the House of Representatives, Hon. Philip Agbese, has described the minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, as “not just a super-performing minister, but parliament’s treasured asset.”
He therefore, dismissed recent allegations surrounding the former lawmaker’s National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate, saying it is a “mere political noise by enemies of progress determined to derail the Renewed Hope Agenda”.
Agbese, who spoke to journalists in Abuja, said the attacks on the minister were “a calculated attempt to distract a reform-minded public servant whose record of innovation and results has redefined service delivery in Nigeria’s public sector.
“In less than a year, Dr Tunji-Ojo has transformed the Ministry of Interior from a bureaucratic enclave into a model of efficiency.
“He(Tunji-Ojo) cleared over 200,000 passport backlogs in just three weeks, introduced end-to-end automation that eliminated touting and racketeering, and opened new passport offices across several countries to serve Nigerians in the diaspora.
“Today, citizens can apply for and collect their passports within days, not months, and that’s a direct outcome of his leadership,” the deputy spokesperson said.
The lawmaker said Tunji-Ojo’s reforms extended beyond the Nigeria Immigration Service as he
brought structure and discipline into the correctional system.
“Over 4,500 inmates were released to decongest our overcrowded prisons, biometric systems have been deployed to track escapees, and jailbreaks have practically become a thing of the past,” he said.
According to Agbese, the minister’s focus on human capital development within the paramilitary agencies has also restored morale and professionalism.
“He ensured timely promotions, introduced digital monitoring systems, and improved the welfare of officers. The ministry has become a place of dignity and performance.
“Under his supervision, it has generated over ₦6 billion in revenue this year alone, proving that transparency and efficiency can go hand in hand,” Agbese said.
He dismissed the NYSC certificate controversy as “a hoax designed by desperate politicians who cannot match competence with results”.
“The so-called certificate scandal is nothing but noise. These are the same old tactics of distraction deployed whenever a young, effective leader begins to challenge the old order. The enemies of progress cannot stand the fact that the Renewed Hope Agenda is working through people like Dr. Tunji-Ojo.
“Governance is not about gossip; it’s about delivery. Every citizen can see the difference the Interior Ministry is making — faster services, cleaner processes, and greater accountability,” he said.
Agbese also warned against what he called “the weaponisation of social media to smear public officials without proof,” adding that every legitimate query should follow due process.
“If there are questions, let the institutions of state handle them — not political jobbers or social media mobs. The rule of law must not give way to mob hysteria,” he added.
