Just In: Hannatu Musawa Breaks Silence, Says No Law Says a Corps Member Can’t Be Minister

• Hannatu Musawa, the minister of art, culture, and creative economy, has addressed the controversy surrounding her status as an NYSC member
• The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) had raised concerns about her serving as a minister while being a corps member
• However, Musawa defended herself and also asserted that there is no legal restriction preventing a serving corps member from holding a political position

FCT, Abuja – Hannatu Musawa, the minister of art, culture and creative economy, has finally spoken on the controversy over her status as a serving National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member.

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) had raised the alarm that one of the ministers of President Bola Tinubu was a serving corps member.

Hannatu Musawa: NYSC confirms minister’s status

Subsequently, Eddy Megwa, the director of public relations of the scheme, said Musawa was occupying the ministerial position in breach of the NYSC Act.

Megwa explained that it was against the NYSC Act for any corps member to pick up any government appointment until the one-year service was over.

NYSC: I didn’t break any law, Musawa reacts

In a statement on Sunday, August 27, the minister explained why she deferred service until 2023.

She also said she was posted to Akwa Ibom as against Ebonyi, which the NYSC spokesman mentioned, Daily Trust reported.

Her statement read in part:

“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.”

Can NYSC members serve as ministers? Lawyers react

Meanwhile, senior lawyers have weighed in on the constitutionality of the appointment of Musawa as minister of arts, culture and creative economy by President Bola Tinubu.

While some lawyers said the Nigerian Constitution supports her appointment, others disagreed.

Musawa was among the 45 new ministers cleared by the Senate recently and sworn in by President Tinubu.

Source: Legit.ng