Tinubu’s minister defends corps member appointment, claims no legal violation
The Minister of Art, Culture, and Creative Economy, Mrs. Musawa, has defended her recent ministerial appointment, asserting that it did not contravene any laws despite being a participant in the mandatory one-year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
The controversy emerged following concerns raised by the Human Rights Writers Association (HURIWA), which highlighted Musawa’s ministerial role while she was reportedly serving in Abuja.
Emeka Megwa, the Director of Press and Public Relations of the NYSC, stated that accepting government positions during the service year is prohibited under the NYSC Act.
Megwa elaborated that Musawa was initially mobilised in 2001 for youth service in Ebonyi State, where she completed her orientation before relocating to Kaduna State.
However, he noted that she did not fulfill the service requirement and was considered to have absconded.
In an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Musawa refuted claims of any legal breach, asserting that she has completed two separate years of national youth service throughout her life, emphasising her belief that her current role is lawful.
“There have been so many different accounts of that particular situation. The fact that I’m seated here should tell you that I did not do anything wrong,” she said.
“I have not come out to set the records straight as to what really happened. The social media has just run rife with different accounts. The matter has been adjudicated and one day, I will come out with my own account.
“I did not break the law. I did NYSC and finished. I can assure you that nothing was done to break the law or regulation. Everything that I did was in accordance with the law,” she said.
Asked whether she was worried that the President would drop her from his cabinet because of the “controversies” around her person, the minister said, “I don’t think there is a controversy about my person, and I don’t think there is a controversy about my office. What I can tell you is that I campaigned for the President and I trust his judgement.
“What I know of the President is that he has a vision and a mission to make Nigeria better than he met it. He is a very courageous man. As a leader, you have to take courageous decisions.
“For him to give Nigerians his deliverables, he needs a team of lieutenants to do that. I think it is healthy in any democracy and any administration for him to look at his cabinet and his lieutenants to see who are working in tandem with him to give those deliverables and if anybody isn’t, I think we have to trust his judgement.
“So, I am not worried because I know that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has the best interest of the nation and whatever he would make in terms of the restructuring or otherwise of his cabinet is going to be in the best interest of delivering his mission and vision for Nigerians.”
Proofreading by Fa’izatu Aliyu Doma, Journalist at Neptune Prime.
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