A major shake-up has hit President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s cabinet as the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Mr. Geoffrey Uche Nnaji, has resigned amid a raging controversy over alleged discrepancies in his academic certificates.
Nnaji, who was appointed in August 2023, tendered his resignation on Monday following mounting public criticism and political pressure.
In a letter addressed to the President, he thanked Tinubu for the opportunity to serve but described the allegations trailing him as politically motivated blackmail.
“I have been a consistent target of malicious attacks orchestrated by political opponents.
"My decision to step aside is to allow for an impartial investigation and to protect the integrity of the administration I served,” the former minister said.
Confirming the resignation, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, stated that President Tinubu had accepted Nnaji’s decision and commended him for his service to the nation.
“The President appreciates Mr. Nnaji’s contributions to national development and wishes him success in his future endeavours,” Onanuga said in a statement issued on Monday.
Nnaji’s exit marks the first major resignation in Tinubu’s cabinet and has stirred reactions across political circles.
While some commended his decision as a mark of responsibility, others viewed it as a symptom of growing pressure on the administration to uphold transparency and due diligence in public appointments.
As at press time, no successor had been announced, though sources within the Presidency hinted that an acting minister might be named in the coming days to ensure the smooth running of the ministry.
