Being a corps member does not stop my appointment as minister – Hannatu Musawa tells NYSC

The new Minister of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has reacted to call for her removal as she is currently a serving National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) corps member.

NYSC Director of Press and Public Relations, Eddy Megwa, on Friday said the minister has been serving for the past eight months in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

He explained that it was a breach of the NYSC act for any corps member to pick up government appointment until the one year of service was over.

However, reacting to the allegation on Sunday, August 27, Musawa in a statement said: “The last couple of days have witnessed barrage of media att@cks and misinformation about me following my appointment and swearing-in as the Minister of Art, Culture and Creative Economy by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

It is true I am currently on the NYSC national service, which I began 8 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.

I started the mandatory national service as a Corp member deployed to Akwa-Ibom State (pls confirm state) in 2001 upon the completion of my university education. I could not complete the service 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. ..(continue reading from next slide).