‘My Resignation Was A Matter Of Principle, Not Admission Of Guilt’, Kemi Adeosun Speaks On Fake NYSC Certificate Saga

Former Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, has described her 2018 resignation from President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet as the “best decision” she ever made, emphasising that it was guided by principle rather than guilt.

Speaking on ‘Inside Sources’, a programme on Channels Television, Adeosun said she stepped down to protect the integrity of the Finance Ministry and to avoid distractions while contesting the controversy over her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Exemption Certificate in court.

“People kept asking, why did I resign? That no one resigns as Minister of Finance as I did. I still think it was the right thing for me to do,” she said.

“My resignation is a matter of principle and not an admission of wrongdoing. It was a step to protect the Office of the Minister of Finance and defend my reputation. I can’t be attending local and international meetings as Minister of Finance and also appearing in court in a case concerning my integrity and reputation.”

Adeosun recalled informing President Buhari of her decision: “I went to see Mr President, and I said, ‘Mr President, I need to go. I need to go to court because I have to clear my name.’

“These names are leased from our children and our grandchildren. You don’t destroy your name because you want to stay as minister,” she added.

Recall that Mrs Adeosun resigned following allegations that she had submitted a forged NYSC exemption certificate to get cleared as a Minister by the Senate. However, in July 2021, the Federal High Court in Abuja ruled that she was never legally required to participate in NYSC, as she was not a Nigerian citizen at the time of her graduation or when she turned 30.

On economic policy, Adeosun criticised fuel subsidy payments as unsustainable.

“There was no minister who did not know that subsidy was killing us. We had consumption figures of about 65 million litres per day with only about 10 million cars. It was not possible,” she said.

“Money spent on subsidy is money you can’t spend on roads, education, or health,” she added, advocating for structural reforms. “You need structural solutions, not just palliatives, to help people absorb policy changes.”

She also defended the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme and welcomed efforts to harmonise identity data across government agencies.

On poverty, Adeosun said the real challenge lies in generational poverty and lack of social mobility.

She stressed that education and enterprise are the most effective pathways out of poverty and urged Nigerians to take ownership of development rather than relying solely on government intervention.