Musawa Denies Statement On Her NYSC Status

The Minister of Art, Culture, and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa has denied a statement credited to her by some media outlets about her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) status.

In a statement signed by the Minister, she argued that her appointment is not a contravention of the country’s laws.

The statement reads; “I would like to state clearly that contrary to wrong insinuations and false assumptions in a section of the mainstream media and social media where false accusations have been made, there is no breach of any law or constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended regarding my current position as a Minister and status as a serving corps member.

“It must be said that there is no law of Nigeria or any part of our Constitution and NYSC Act that states that a serving corps member cannot be appointed by the President of Nigeria or any other appointing authority into political positions. Equally, no part of our existing laws and the NYSC Act says that a corps member must finish service before he/she can be appointed into political office. There are no legal or constitutional limitations whatsoever. I have not broken any law of Nigeria.

“In fact, in a decided case before a Federal High Court Abuja in 2021, Justice Taiwo Taiwo ruled that the Constitution of Nigeria, which is the grundnorm, does not require anyone to even present a first-degree certificate or any other certificate, including the NYSC certificate to be appointed a Minister in Nigeria”.

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, had raised the alarm that Musawa is without an NYSC certificate.

Debunking the report in a statement issued by the Deputy Director of Press at the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Suleiman Haruna, Musawa said the published statement did not emanate from her and, as such, dissociated herself from it.

It says; “the attention of Hannatu Musa Musawa, the Minister of Art, Culture and Creative Economy, has been drawn to a recently circulating piece…The piece is inaccurately associated with the current NYSC discussion.

“The Minister clarifies that she has not released any official statement regarding the aforementioned matter and kindly asks the public to be cautious of unverified information.”

The minister added: “For clarity, I wish to state that I have not issued any statement on the current issue.”

Musawa was among the 45 ministers President Bola Tinubu inaugurated last Monday after confirmation by the Senate.