Eddy Megwa, the Director of Press and Public Relations at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), has stated that Mrs. Hannatu Musawa, the Minister of Arts and Culture, is currently in violation of the NYSC Act by holding a ministerial position while still undergoing her one-year youth service.
Megwa confirmed that the minister has been engaged in her service for the past eight months within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
He clarified that according to the NYSC Act, it is prohibited for any corps member to assume a government appointment before completing the one-year service term.
Originally enlisted for youth service in 2001 in Ebonyi State, where she participated in the orientation program, Mrs. Musawa later relocated to Kaduna State to continue her service. However, she absconded from the program upon reaching Kaduna and did not fulfill the requirements.
Megwa underscored that the NYSC program’s administrators would address this matter and take appropriate action as necessary.
Legal professionals offer their perspective on the situation.
In response, Abeny Mohammed (SAN) highlighted that this action represents a violation of the NYSC Act, which explicitly states that individuals must fulfil the service requirement or possess an exemption certificate before engaging in any lawful employment or offering themselves for employment. Mohammed emphasized the incongruity in policy implementation and the disregard for existing laws.
Likewise, Femi Falana (SAN) emphasized that it is a legal transgression for an individual still in the process of serving with the NYSC to accept a ministerial appointment. Falana released a statement titled “A Youth Corps Member is not Competent to be a Minister in Nigeria,” wherein he cited Section 2 of the NYSC Act. This section stipulates that any citizen who is under 30 years old and has graduated from a tertiary institution, whether within or outside Nigeria, must complete the one-year mandatory national youth service. Those above the age of 30 are not eligible for participation in the program.
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