The Nigerian minister of art, culture and creative economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, has denied issuing a statement on her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) status.
A statement signed by Suleiman Haruna, Deputy Director, Press, Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, said that the minister has not released any official statement on the matter and urged the public to be cautious of unverified information.
The statement comes after a document titled “My Personal Statement on My NYSC Status as a Serving Minister” was circulated online. The document, which is purportedly written by the minister, claims that she is exempt from serving the NYSC because she is a member of the National Assembly.
However, the deputy director said that the document is fake and that the minister has never made any statement on her NYSC status.
The NYSC is a compulsory one-year program for all Nigerian graduates. The program was established in 1973 to inculcate national unity and develop the skills of young Nigerians.
The minister’s denial comes amid a debate about the relevance of the NYSC in Nigeria. Some people argue that the program is outdated and should be scrapped, while others say that it is still an important tool for national unity.
