Minister of Art, Culture, and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has declared that she owes Nigerians no explanation regarding the controversy surrounding her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate, asserting that she did not violate any laws.
Musawa, who appeared on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Sunday, firmly dismissed ongoing criticism over her NYSC status, stating that she would not be drawn into a debate on the matter.
The minister has faced backlash since her 2023 Senate confirmation for failing to provide proof of completing the mandatory NYSC scheme. This led to a legal challenge by concerned citizens, who claimed her appointment was improper without fulfilling the NYSC requirement.
The case was, however, dismissed in April 2024 by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja, who ruled that the plaintiffs lacked the legal standing to file the suit.
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Addressing the controversy, Musawa said, “I owe Nigerians nothing. I didn’t do anything wrong. I didn’t break any law. The fact that I’m here speaks for itself.” She further explained that the matter had been resolved legally and that she would, in the future, provide details about the situation.
“I haven’t come out to set the record straight, but one day I will. The social media narratives are just stories. I have done my NYSC, and everything I did was by the law.”
When pressed on whether she returned to complete the service, the minister reiterated her stance, emphasizing her focus on delivering results for Nigerians. “What I owe Nigerians is to do my job and give them the deliverables. The NYSC I did and finished,” she stated.
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