By Ayo Yusuf
The minister of Art, Culture and Creative Economy, Barr. Hannatu Musawa has denied issuing any statement on her predicament as a minister who is also a serving youth corps member.
In the alleged statement Barr. Musawa had defended her NYSC status explaining that there was no place where it says a serving youth corps member cannot be appointed a minister.
However, hours later, the minister denied the authorship of that statement which detailed how family reasons prevented her from going on the national assignment 22 years ago when she was first posted to Akwa Ibom for her NYSC.
In a statement signed by the Deputy Director, Press Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, the minister said she had not released any official statement regarding the aforementioned matter and asked the public to be cautious of unverified information.
She expressed appreciation for the support, solidarity, and understanding of Nigerians in these times, and insisted that the widely circulated statement about her current travails was not written by her.
The statement reads in parts: “The attention of Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa, Hon. Minister of Art, Culture and Creative Economy, has been drawn to a recently circulating piece titled: “MY PERSONAL STATEMENT ON MY NYSC STATUS AS A SERVING MINISTER.
“The piece is inaccurately associated with her in relation to the current NYSC discussion.
“The Hon. 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.
“I deeply value and appreciate the support, solidarity, and understanding of Nigerians in these times. For clarity, I wish to state that I have not issued any statement on the current issue.”
It would be recalled that Barr. Musawa’s confirmation as a minister stirred up a hornets’ nest when it was discovered that she was still a youth corp member undergoing her service year at a law chambers in Abuja.
The NYSC Director, Press and Public Relations, Eddy Megwa, who confirmed her status said by occupying a ministerial position while she was still serving, Barr. Musawa was in breach of the NYSC Act.
However, in the controversial statement issued on Sunday which she has since denied, Barr. Musawa argued.
“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 our 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.
“Equally, no part of our existing laws and NYSC Act says that a corps member must finish service before he/she can be appointed into political office. There is no legal and constitutional limitations whatsoever. I have not broken any law of Nigeria.”
