Barrister Adebayo Shittu, Minister of Communications has eventually opened up on his certificate scandal…
“The NYSC certificate isn’t a requisite in politics. The constitution provides for the qualification needed for state assembly members, NYSC is not there. I didn’t need it to become a member of the state assembly, and that is already a service.”
The story making the rounds has it that the minister did not participate in the NYSC scheme despite graduating from the then University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) at age 25.
The minister, born on March 23, 1953, studied Law at Ife, graduating in 1978. He then proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, Lagos, qualifying as a lawyer in 1979.
Having earned a bachelors degree at the age of 25, Section 2 of the NYSC Act expects the minister to participate in the year-long national service. Skipping the compulsory national service is an offence under the NYSC law, punishable with up to 12 months imprisonment.