- Hon. Zaharaddeen Mazoji asserts that Minister Hannatu Musawa can legally serve as a minister while also completing her mandatory youth service program
- Mazoji highlights the constitutional provisions supporting Musawa’s appointment and criticizes the unnecessary controversy surrounding it
Hon Zaharaddeen Mazoji, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain in Katsina State, has stated that the minister of culture and tourism, Barr. Hannatu Musawa can observe her mandatory one-year youth service programme while also serving as a minister.
Mazoji told reporters in Abuja yesterday that there was no law in the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution prohibiting her from taking up a ministerial position while serving her youth service.
Her appointment, he claims, is entirely legal, and the controversy surrounding it should end.
There is absolutely nothing illegal about the minister’s appointment,” Mazoji stated. She can serve as a minister while also performing her youth service. I don’t think her appointment should be a source of contention.
Allowing the controversy to continue, he said, could distract both the minister and the Federal Executive Council.
The legal expert emphasized that the 1999 Constitution, as amended, addresses this issue unequivocally and without ambiguity.
He chastised those who inquired about her personal life and regional background in addition to her qualifications.
Mazoji argued that the controversy was unnecessary because political appointments should be viewed as an opportunity to serve the nation rather than a means of personal gain.
He stated that Musawa’s appointment is in line with the federal government’s youth empowerment initiative.
He went into greater detail about the constitutional provisions that support her appointment.
When you look at the provisions of Section 147 of the 1999 Constitution, particularly sub-section 5, it states that no person shall be appointed as a Minister of the Government of the Federation unless qualified for election as a member of the House of Representatives.
He argued that the qualifications for House of Representatives membership, which include being a citizen of Nigeria, attaining the age of 25 years, and having at least a school certificate level of education, should apply to ministerial nominees.
Mazoji said;
What is causing the conflict is as regards her status and a youth corps member that is still serving. We have looked at the law, and I have not seen any constitutional limitations. I have also looked at Section 2 of the NYSC Act; there is no law that says she must have finished service before she can be appointed as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.