Hannatu Musawa Needs NYSC Certificate for Ministerial Role? Constitutional Lawyer Speaks
- Hannatu Musawa, the minister of art, culture, and creative economy, does not need an NYSC Discharge/Exemption Certificate for appointment into political offices, according to Barrister Festus Ogun
- The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) had raised concerns about Musawa's appointment as a minister while still serving as a corps member
- However, Barr. Ogun said according to the Supreme Court, political appointment is not the same as employment
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FCT, Abuja - A constitutional lawyer, Festus Ogun, has said people do not need a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Discharge/Exemption certificate for appointment into political offices.
Ogun was apparently reacting to the controversial NYSC status of the minister of art, culture and creative economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa.
Source: Facebook
'Musawa doesn't need NYSC to be minister'
That controversy deepened in the past days following the disclosure by the NYSC that the minister is undergoing her national youth service.
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This sparked calls for her resignation in some quarters.
Eddy Megwa, the director of public relations of the scheme, waded in and said Musawa was occupying the ministerial position in breach of the NYSC Act.
Megwa explained that it was against the NYSC Act for any corps member to pick up any government appointment until the one-year service was over.
But Ogun said an NYSC Discharge/Exemption Certificate is required only for employment in the civil service and private establishments.
He wrote on his known X (formerly Twitter) page on Sunday, August 27:
“You do not need an NYSC Discharge/Exemption Certificate for appointment into political offices. It is required ONLY for employment into the civil service and private establishments. According to the Supreme Court political appointment is not the same as employment.”
Hannatu Musawa: Minister issues rebuttal
Musawa earlier dissociated herself from a statement purportedly released by her regarding the controversy surrounding her NYSC status.
The rebuttal came after a statement published on Sunday, August 27, claiming the minister had finally spoken on the controversy over her status as a serving NYSC member.
Hannatu Musawa breaches law
In a piece of related news, Legit.ng reported that Musawa faced criticisms for allegedly 'abusing' the naira notes.
A viral video showed Musawa spraying a musician with naira notes at an event after her inauguration on Monday, August 21.
The spraying of the naira by Musawa, an ally of President Bola Tinubu, contravenes Section 21 of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act 2007.
Source: Legit.ng
