Society Gists

Mr. Rasak Atunwa, the People Democratic Party (PDP) flag bearer for Kwara state 2019 governorship election who was caught in National Youth Service Corps (NYSC certificate forgery has perfected plans to retrieve his credential from Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and submits West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) certificate as his highest qualification, Premium Times a Nigerian online media has reported.

Despite Rasak claim that he obtained both bachelors and master’s degrees from respective universities in London, he has opted to submit Secondary School Certificate to INEC as his highest qualification.

Rasak it is understood is compelled to submit WAEC certificate is to avoid being caught into the web of forgery which is a crime in Nigeria.

The NYSC Act mandates every Nigerian who graduates from a university or polytechnic to undertake one-year compulsory national youth scheme, provided the person finished before the age of 30.

Anyone who fails to undergo the one-year NYSC scheme is prohibited from employment in Nigeria public service while forging the scheme certificate attracts up to 14 years imprisonment.

Also, anyone who graduates before 30 but deliberately declines to serve has committed a crime that attracts 12-month imprisonment, even if the person did not forge NYSC documents.

Only a person who obtained a degree after 30 or served in the military or won national honours medal qualifies for an exemption certificate under the NYSC law.

Although Atunwa plots to submit his WAEC certificate, he is liable for committing perjury. He has sworn an oath at Kwara State High Court in Ilorin that he had university degrees and participated in NYSC between 1995 and 1996.

As at the time of this report, the universities he claimed to have attended in England and his qualifications were still available on his page at the National Assembly website as of 10:40 a.m. on October 29.