Hannatu Musa Musawa, Nigeria's Minister of Art, Culture, and Creative Economy, defends her appointment amid controversy regarding her ongoing National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) status. She asserts that she followed all legal protocols and plans to clarify the situation further.
Hannatu Musa Musawa, Nigeria's Minister of Art, Culture, and Creative Economy, has publicly defended her acceptance of a ministerial role while still undergoing the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). In a recent interview, she asserted that she adhered to all legal protocols and has not violated any laws.
The controversy emerged after the NYSC management confirmed Musawa was still serving as a corps member when she was appointed minister in August 2023. Critics, including the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), questioned the legality of her dual status. Musawa, however, stated that her situation had been “adjudicated,” and promised to clarify the matter further in the future.
“I did not break the law. I did NYSC and finished. Everything that I did was by the law,” she emphasized. Despite the uproar, she indicated that her appointment had been thoroughly vetted during her senate screening, where no concerns were raised regarding her NYSC certificate.
The issue isn't new; Musawa previously faced scrutiny in 2020 when her nomination for a position on the National Pension Commission was rejected due to her failure to provide an NYSC certificate. In April 2024, a federal court dismissed a lawsuit seeking her removal, further solidifying her position.
