The new Minister of Arts, Culture & Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa has said she did not issue the statement credited to her on the issue of her serving as a minister while also serving as a member of the Nigerian Youth Service Corp.
A statement circulating widely quoted the minister as saying that being a serving member of the Nigerian Youth Service Corps does not stop her from serving as a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
It would be recalled that the NYSC Director of Press & Public Relations, Eddy Megwa, on Friday confirmed that the minister had been serving for the past 8 months in the 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.
A statement purportedly issued by the minister came out on August 27. It read: “The last couple of days have witnessed a barrage of media attacks and misinformation about me following my appointment and swearing-in as the Minister of Art, Culture & Creative Economy by President 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.”
The minister has now clarified that she never issued the statement. A statement by his media aide reads:
“The attention of Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa, Hon. Minister of Art, Culture and Creative Economy, has been drawn to a recently circulating piece titled:
MY PERSONAL STATEMENT ON MY NYSC STATUS AS A SERVING MINISTER. The piece is inaccurately associated with her in relation to the current NYSC discussion.
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.
“I deeply value and appreciate the support, solidarity, and understanding of Nigerians in these times. For clarity, I wish to state that I have not issued any statement on the current issue.”
Suleiman Haruna
Deputy Director, Press
Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation.”
