Why I Decided to Resign – Kemi Adeosun

Embattled former Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, has given
reasons for her decision to resign from her position in President
Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet.

In her resignation letter , the former minister noted that she
was shocked by the outcome of the investigation done on the
allegation that her NYSC certificate which she had earlier tendered
as Commissioner for Finance in Ogun State was not genuine.
She said not until the scandal broke out she never knew the
certificate was not genuine.

Buhari had, on Friday, accepted the resignation of Adeosun as
minister of finance. He also approved the Minister of State Budget
and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, as her successor.

Adeosun’s letter read in part, “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.”

She also thanked Buhari for his patience in finding the truth in
the matter.
She stated, “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.”
Thanking the President for the opportunity to serve she said, “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.”

Embattled former Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, has given
reasons for her decision to resign from her position in President
Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet.

In her resignation letter , the former minister noted that she
was shocked by the outcome of the investigation done on the
allegation that her NYSC certificate which she had earlier tendered
as Commissioner for Finance in Ogun State was not genuine.
She said not until the scandal broke out she never knew the
certificate was not genuine.

Buhari had, on Friday, accepted the resignation of Adeosun as
minister of finance. He also approved the Minister of State Budget
and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, as her successor.

Adeosun’s letter read in part, “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.”

She also thanked Buhari for his patience in finding the truth in
the matter.
She stated, “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.”
Thanking the President for the opportunity to serve she said, “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.”