Photo: Miss Hannatu Musawa, Minister of Arts, Culture, Creative Economy.
My ministerial appointment legal —Musawa claims
Miss Hannatu Musawa, the Minister of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, has claimed that her appointment by President Bola Tinubu, without obtaining the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate is not in breach of the law.
The 43 years old minister, who is currently a serving NYSC member, says that her serving as a minister at the same time as a youth corps member, both constitute a continuation of national service.
Musawa, a London trained lawyer from Katsina State, made this known while reacting to media and internet users over the controversy surrounding her ministerial appointment due to her not having an NYSC discharge or exemption certificate before taking a public job or political appointment, as required by law.
She said,”The last couple of days have witnessed barrage of media attacks and misinformation about me following my appointment and swearing-in as the Minister of Art, Culture and Creative Economy.
“I want to, again, thank President Tinubu for finding me worthy and for giving me the opportunity to serve the country I love as one of his Ministers.
“It is true I am currently on the NYSC national service, which I began 8 months ago as a matter of duty and devotion to my country, having been unable to complete the scheme since I was first mobilised in 2001.
“I started the mandatory national service as a Corp member deployed to Akwa-Ibom State (pls confirm state) in 2001 upon the completion of my university education. I could not complete the service same year after my redeployment to Kaduna State due to family obligations.
“Despite this, it has been my personal resolve and commitment that I will always fulfill this national duty whenever I am opportuned to do so.
“I will 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 serving Corp member.
“It must be said that there is no law of Nigeria or any part of the constitution and NYSC Act that states that a serving Corp member can not be appointed by the President of Nigeria or any other appointing authority into political positions.”
However, despite Musawa’s claim, it would be recalled that Mr Femi Falana, a renowned legal luminary and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) had earlier picked holes in Musawa’s appointment, saying that it was unconstitutional.
The NYSC had also in a statement issued by its spokesman said that Musawa’s appointment was in breach of the NYSC Act and the constitution, as she had yet to obtain its mandatory certificate which would then qualify her for any public employment or political appointment.
