Nigeria’s new Minister of Art, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has received backlash following the revelation that she is undertaking the mandatory one-year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.
Development Diaries reports that Musawa, who is from Katsina State, is the nominee who broke down in tears while appearing before the senate for screening earlier this month.
Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), in a statement, alleged that Musawa abandoned her NYSC programme in Ebonyi State years back but later showed interest in completing it.
The NYSC certificate, discharge or exemption, is required by law for employment in Nigeria, whether in a public or private establishment.
The scheme, which comes with a monthly allowance (popularly known as ‘allawee’), is in line with the provisions of section 12, sub-sections one and two of the NYSC Act.
Therefore, the minister should be in her place of primary assignment (PPA) as a serving corps member, not serving the country as a minister in the President Bola Tinubu administration.
It is understood that Musawa was mobilised by the NYSC this year and was posted to a law firm in Abuja before her appointment.
As reported by TheCable, an online publication, the Director of Press and Public Relations at the NYSC headquarters, Eddy Megwa, has confirmed that the minister is a corps member.
‘Yes, she is a serving corps member’, he was quoted as saying.
This development points to one thing: the minister was not properly screened by the senate or thoroughly investigated by the Department of State Services (DSS) before her confirmation.
Come to think of it, Musawa is currently heading a government ministry and serving under another government outfit, NYSC, which is under the Ministry of Youth. She definitely has to drop one for the other.
Development Diaries calls on the minister to do the honourable thing: step down from your position as minister to focus on completing your mandatory NYSC programme.
We also call on President Tinubu to immediately replace Musawa with another competent Nigerian if the minister fails to resign her position.
Photo Source: Hannatu Musa Musawa
