Arts, Culture and Creative Economy Minister Hannatu Msawa claims to have been to the National Youth Services Corporation (NYSC) at least twice.
Msawa made this claim while referring to the controversy surrounding the NYSC certificate scandal.
She said this while appearing on Channels TV’s Politics Today on Sunday.
According to a report in Naija News, the minister presented evidence of her participation in the compulsory NYSC scheme when she appeared for examination in the Nigerian Senate after President Bola Tinubu sent her name for confirmation. The bill has not been submitted to the Senate and is attracting national attention.
Her confirmation in 2023 subsequently led to legal fireworks being set off by some outraged Nigerians who said it was an aberration for her to be appointed without fulfilling her duties.
Commenting on the situation, Mr Musawa said he had no intention of setting the record straight regarding the controversy.
She insisted she was not prepared to discuss the matter with anyone until there was a private period to find out what happened.
she said. “I don’t know what you heard. There are so many different explanations for that particular situation. The fact that I’m sitting here means I didn’t do anything wrong. But I’m not going to reveal the record as to what happened. Social media is full of different accounts.
“This matter has already been decided and someday I will come out with my explanation. Probably I have done more NYSC than you (presenter). I have done at least twice in my life I experienced the NYSC.
When asked further why he dodged the question knowing that he was obligated to explain his high status to Nigerians, the minister kicked back.
“I think what I need to do to Nigerians is to say I haven’t done anything wrong. I haven’t broken any laws. The NYSC that I did is over. All I can say is this: Everything I did was in accordance with the law.
“That is why I also said that one day I will reveal what happened to set the record straight.For now, it is important for me to focus on delivering deliverables to Nigerians.” I think so,” she said.
Naija News reports that in accordance with NYSC regulations, the program is designed as a one-time experience for eligible Nigerian graduates.
The law states that a service member cannot re-enlist after completing the program and receiving a discharge certificate.
