28th August, 2023
Hannatu Musawa, the Minister of Art, Culture and Creative Economy, has disowned a viral statement purported to be her reaction to controversies about her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) status and ministerial appointment.
The NYSC status of Musawa has been an object of intense media focus in the past few days following her swearing-in as one of the 45 ministers of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Some reports had indicated that she was still undergoing her national youth service.
The management of NYSC had confirmed the claim, saying the Minister absconded when she was first mobilised for the scheme in 2003.
Thus, some critics had said she is not qualified to be appointed minister as a serving NYSC member.
However, Musawa had in the now disowned statement on Sunday said no Nigerian law was broken with her appointment as a minister while she is still undergoing the NYSC scheme.
But in a statement by the Deputy Director, Press at the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Suleiman Haruna, Musawa said the statement did not emanate from her.
She said she has not issued any statement on the controversies surrounding her status.
“The attention of Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa, The Minister of Art, Culture and Creative Economy, has been drawn to a recently circulating piece…The piece is inaccurately associated with her in relation to the current NYSC discussion,” Mr Haruna said.
“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.”
“For clarity, I wish to state that I have not issued any statement on the current issue,” the Minister said in the statement.