LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Minister of Art, Culture & Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has reacted to the controversy that trailed her appointment while serving as a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
Recall that the appointment of Hannatu Musawa as Nigeria’s Minister of Art, Culture, and Creative Economy had raised concerns over the qualifications required for such a position.
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) had questioned if it is appropriate for someone still completing their mandatory one-year youth service program to hold a ministerial role.
Recall that the NYSC had accused her of breaching its act, which states that a corps member has to wait until the one-year service is over before picking up any government appointment.
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Reacting to this, Hannatu stated that she did not breach any act as there is “no part of our existing laws and NYSC Act that says a corps member must finish service before he/she can be appointed into political office.”
She also said she was posted to Akwa Ibom as against Ebonyi as NYSC spokesperson earlier mentioned.
Hannatu said in a statement, “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 serving Corp, 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 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 are no legal and constitutional limitations whatsoever. I have not broken any law of Nigeria.”