Hannatu Musawa: I Haven’t Spoken On NYSC Saga

• Minister Hannatu Musawa refrains from directly responding to media reports about her NYSC status; controversy arises over alleged violation
• NYSC clarifies policy violation; Musawa’s statement on unverified NYSC issue refuted, asks for caution in public reception

Hannatu Musawa, Minister of Art, Culture, and Creative Economy, says she has yet to respond to media reports that she is a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

Although her NYSC status has been in the news for years, it resurfaced after the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) raised the alarm that she is a serving corps member.

Musawa was occupying the ministerial position in violation of the NYSC Act, according to Eddy Megwa, the scheme’s Director of Public Relations.

Megwa told Daily Trust that it was against the NYSC Act for any corps member to accept any government appointment until their one-year service was completed.

Mrs Musawa was mobilized in 2001 for the youth service to Ebonyi State, where she had her orientation programme, but was later relocated to Kaduna State to continue the program, according to him.

Megwa stated that she absconded and did not complete the programme after arriving in Kaduna, adding that the scheme would investigate the matter and take appropriate action.

Musawa, on the other hand, was quoted in a widely circulated statement on Sunday as saying she had broken no laws.

Suleiman Haruna, Deputy Director, Press, Ministry of Information and National Orientation, issued a counter-press release shortly after the statement went viral.

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.