A coalition of civil society groups is calling on the Senate to investigate the nomination of Tunji Ojo as minister. The groups, led by Policy Advocacy and Integrity Network Nigeria (PAIN), say that Ojo has a history of certificate-related issues and should not be confirmed without a thorough investigation.
In a letter to the Senate President, the groups said that Ojo has been accused of forging his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate. They also said that Ojo has been investigated by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for alleged corrupt practices.
“We are calling on the Senate to invoke its powers to investigate these allegations,” the groups said. “If the allegations are true, then Ojo should not be confirmed as a minister.”
The groups said that they are concerned about the integrity of the government and that they want to ensure that only qualified and honest people are appointed to ministerial positions.
“We believe that the Senate has a responsibility to ensure that the government is made up of people who have the highest ethical standards,” the groups said. “We urge the Senate to take our concerns seriously and to investigate these allegations thoroughly.”
The letter was signed by Joe F. Mesele, the convener and executive director of PAINN.