Hanatu Musa Musawa the incumbent Minister of Creative Art and Culture is in the eye of the storms for her non completion of the compulsory one year national service and appointment as a Minister of the Federal Republic.
Some people are quick to compare her case to that of former Minister of Finance under President Muhammadu Buhari; Madam Kemi Adeosun. Others compared her to former Minister of Communications Adebayo Shittu. But I dare say no room for comparison with the two above.
While Adeosun demanded for exemption letter in line with the law or NYSC Act, and got swindled by God knows who, Shittu against the act, deliberately refused to serve and opted to run for a public office as a member of his state House of Assembly.
In the case of Musawa, she was first deployed in 2001 and posted to Bayelsa State, but redeployed to Kaduna State and never completed the service for what she termed family engagements.
According to her, she applied and got mobilised in 2023 about 8 months ago and deployed to Abuja 22 years after.
I am not by any standard in support of Musawa abandoning national service for 22 years, something she should and would have done since and not delayed till now. But we should be comparing her case to her counterpart in Defence; Muhammed Bello the Mutawale who presides over State, Defence.
While most of the Ministers were showcasing multiple certificates from varied graduates and post graduates schools, Bello presented his highest certificate: a trade school certificate.
And with that certificate, Bello served as a civil servant in the old Sokoto State until he resigned, became a Commissioner in Zamfara State, elected House of Representatives Member, became a Governor and now appointed a Minister.
Don’t get me wrong, Bello Mutawalen Maradun broke no law. The Constitution of the Federal Republic said to be a Minister, you need only a School Leaving Certificate or its equivalent. This Bello have and presented.
For Musawa, the NYSC Act in section 12 said the NYSC discharge or exemption certificate is necessary for employment. The Act did not make it necessary for appointment which Musawa now benefits from.
For many, especially in Musawa’s part of the Republic where morality is an issue, she is a focus and should feel heavy serving as minister without NYSC certificate as a burden.
Another moral issue is; would Musawa defer receiving a minster’s renumeration until she completes her national service in another four months, or she will go for the former as her appointment is seen as a redeployment and continued national service, or she would receive the two renumeration?
Of cause, the case of Musawa is unprecedented but it has opened a new vista in our national discourse and public office and holders.
Yes, Hanatu Musa Musawa broke no law by differing her national service for 22 years, appointed without NYSC discharge or exemption certificate, but it is a great moral burden which will weigh on her atleats as a Minister of the Federal Republic.
Abdull-azeez writes from Kaduna
