The minister of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has admitted that she is a serving member of the National Youth Service Corp, NYSC.
Ms Musawa made the confirmation in a statement she personally signed on Sunday.
She said the statement was in response to barrage of media attacks and misinformation, following her appointment as minister by President Bola Tinubu.
Ms Musawa insisted that she had not broken any of the laws of the National Youth Service Corps.
“It is true I am currently a corps member, which I began eight 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.
“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 corps member,” she said.
Referring to the constitution and the NYSC Act, the minister said, “No part of any of them states that a serving corps 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 they can be appointed into political office. There are no legal or constitutional limitations whatsoever. I have not broken any law of Nigeria.”
“I applied to NYSC to be mobilised again for national service last year. NYSC graciously mobilised and deployed me to serve in Abuja, where I have been serving for the last eight months before my current appointment as a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” she added.
Explaining why she didn’t complete the programme when she first enrolled 22 years ago, Ms Musawa said, “I started the mandatory national service as a corps member deployed to Akwa-Ibom State in 2001 upon the completion of my university education. I could not complete the service the 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 fulfil this national duty whenever I am opportune to do so.
“I applied to NYSC to be mobilised again for national service last year. NYSC graciously mobilised and deployed me to serve in Abuja, where I have been serving for the last eight months before my current appointment as a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” she added.
The minister, however, called on Nigerians to support her in the new assignment as she looks forward to completing her NYSC programme in the next four months.
Comments are closed.