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Untold Story of Minister Hannatu Musawa’s NYSC Saga

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The NYSC certificate saga involving Minister Hannatu Musawa has a way more complex background than is currently known to the public, PREMIUM TIMES found.

More facts have emerged about the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) status of the Minister of Art, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa.

Ms Musawa has for weeks been in the eye of the storm for failing, during her confirmation hearing at the Nigerian senate, to provide evidence that she participated in the mandatory national youth service programme after her graduation from the university.

That controversy deepened in the past days following the disclosure by the NYSC that the minister is currently undergoing her national youth service, sparking calls by her critics that she should vacate office.

But PREMIUM TIMES can authoritatively report today that Ms Musawa’s national service saga has a longer history and is far more complicated than is publicly known.

A review of a cache of documents and interviews with people familiar with the matter revealed that Ms Musawa and NYSC authorities had battled for at least three years over her real NYSC status and a withheld certificate.

While the lawyer claimed she completed her national service in 2003 and should be issued the withheld certificate, the NYSC claimed she absconded midway into her service. After the years-long back and forth failed to produce results, Ms Musawa then opted to be remobilised to serve out whatever period of time the NYSC believes is outstanding for her. “We advised her to sue the NYSC over the matter,” an associate of the minister told PREMIUM TIMES. “But she refused, saying she preferred a peaceful resolution of the matter.”

An NYSC discharge certificate issued in Ms. Musawa’s name in 2003 exists and is in the custody of the Corps, according to documents seen by this newspaper. However, authorities are withholding the document after accusing her of absconding at a point during her service year. On her part, Ms. Musawa said the NYSC was not diligent and careful enough in its search for her record and that she was not accorded a fair hearing to prove that she did not abscond.

Ms Musawa, an inferno, and the search for a certificate

In 2020, former President Muhammadu Buhari nominated her for appointment as the national commissioner representing Nigeria’s northwest geopolitical zone on the board of the National Pension Commission (PENCOM).

In preparing for her screening by the Senate, Ms. Musawa wrote the NYSC through its Kaduna State coordinator requesting the replacement of her NYSC certificate.

According to her, the NYSC certificate was part of the documents that got burnt in an inferno that razed her Asokoro residence in 2019.

“Last year, on Saturday, 14th September 2019, at approximately 5:52 p.m., a fire broke out in my house at No 15, Justice Lawal Uwais Street, Asokoro, Abuja Many of my documents were lost in the fire, including which was my NYSC certificate,” she wrote in the letter dated 30 September 2020. “Therefore, I am writing to apply for the replacement of my NYSC Certificate that was lost in the fire incident.”

The Kaduna State NYSC searched for Ms Musawa’s records in its certificate issuance registers but did not find any matching information. The State Coordinator, Isa Wana, therefore, forwarded Ms Musawa’s request to the Corps Certification Department at the NYSC headquarters in Abuja.

Hannatu Musa Musawa

“Her details could not be found in any of our certificate issuance registers of 2001, 2002 and 2003. She could not also remember her state code number and place of primary assignment for ease of further investigation,” Mr Wana wrote in a letter dated 7 October 2020 to the NYSC certificate department.

Days after Mr Wana’s letter to the NYSC headquarters, the corps certification department found Ms Musawa’s NYSC certificate, indicating that she never collected the certificate and that it did not get burnt in her home.

However, because she had claimed in her letters to the NYSC and obtained a police report that the certificate was part of the destroyed properties in the fire that gutted her home, the NYSC declined to issue her the certificate.

The NYSC also accused her of absconding during her service year as it could not find her details in the Kaduna State office where she claimed to have completed her service. Her failure to get the NYSC certificate at the time ultimately led to her disqualification for the PENCOM appointment in November 2020.

Now aware that her certificate is in the custody of the Corps, Ms. Musawa continued to push for its release. In letters to the NYSC, she insisted that she duly completed the NYSC in Kaduna, where she was redeployed after serving for five months in Ebonyi state.

Documents seen by PREMIUM TIMES showed that the minister was called up for national service in September 2002 and posted to the Ministry of Justice, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State. Five months into the service year, in February 2003, she was redeployed to Kaduna State.

The NYSC insisted there is no record that the then corps member continued her service after redeploying to Kaduna. But Ms. Musawa said the corps only needed a further careful search for her records in Ebonyi and Kaduna to determine the authenticity of her claims that she completed her service. She also pleaded to be given an opportunity to provide documents, including copies of letters from Manema Universal Limited in Kaduna, her NYSC employer during the last part of her service year.

In December 2020, Ms. Musawa wrote to the NYSC governing board, asking that the board intervene by giving her a fair hearing regarding the matter. But in a 17 March 2021 reply, the Board said her case had been declared closed, and no further search of her documents was necessary. “The board prays that you accept its decision in good faith and that this becomes the end of this matter as far as the NYSC is concerned,” the letter, signed by Board Secretary Abdullahi Jikamshi, said.

Despite this verdict by the NYSC Board, Ms. Musawa did not relent in the push for her certificate. In August 2022, Ms. Musawa wrote a 10-page letter to the then Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, detailing her ordeal. She pleaded for the review of the NYSC’s decision on her service status and the withholding of her certificate. “My reputation, future, career and integrity could be eroded if this matter is not properly handled,” she wrote in the letter, a copy of which this newspaper obtained.

She claimed she was never accorded a fair hearing throughout the period of the appeal to get her NYSC certificate. According to her, the NYSC repeatedly made the mistake of searching for the wrong call-up number. Instead of NYSC/LAW/2001/405353, she said the NYSC continued to search for NYSC/LAW/2001/405351. The mistake in the call-up number search was made from the Kaduna State office of the NYSC where the search began, she said.

Ms. Musawa also maintained that she completed her NYSC service at Manema Universal Limited in Kaduna but did not collect her certificate at the time because of an illness. “I completed the service in September 2003 and obtained my clearance but didn’t attend the passing-out ceremony at NYSC due to illness,” she said.

She added that she applied for the replacement of the certificate because she believed she had collected the certificate. “At the time I made the application for certificate replacement to the NYSC, I was under the honest and genuine belief that I had collected my certificate at the end of the service year since it was 17 years ago,” she added.

Ms Musawa also told then Minister Dare that “The DG NYSC has been acting on the information he has received without giving me an opportunity to be heard and, thus, has made conclusions that remain detrimental to my future even and most especially beyond the present assignment.

“From all indications, it would appear that the DG NYSC has become sentimental and ceases to be impartial in this matter. It is clear that I have not received a fair hearing and fair consideration from him in the least bit. Thus, I pray that all actions taken therein by the DG NYSC in this matter should be reversed as prejudicial and the whole matter reconsidered dispassionately by another objective body or person.

An unyielding Musawa Plea and a remobilisation

However, her appeal to Minister Dare for a reconsideration of her case did not produce the result she desired. Nonetheless, she continued her push to collect her service certificate, her associates said. When it became clear that she was not making any headway, she then requested to be allowed to reenroll for whatever number of months the NYSC believed was outstanding on her service year.

The Director of Press and Public Relations of the NYSC, Eddy Megwa, told DAILY TRUST Ms Musawa was remobilised and had been participating in the national youth service scheme for the past eight months in Abuja.

Her associates say having done an extra eight months of national service in Abuja, in addition to the five she did in Ebonyi, the embattled minister can be said to have completed her one-year service. “She even overstayed in service,” one associate said, asking not to be named because he was not authorised to discuss the matter with the media.

PREMIUM has not been able to independently verify that claim. Ms. Musawa and Mr Megwa, the NYSC spokesperson, did not answer or return calls made to their known telephone numbers seeking their comments for this story.

What NYSC law says

Established by Decree number 24 of 2 May 1973, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) was created for “proper encouragement and development of common ties among the youths of Nigeria and the promotion of national unity”.

The decree, which mandates all Nigerians who graduate from a university in or outside Nigeria to undergo the programme for a period of 12 months, has, however, been reviewed by the legislature since the return to democracy.

According to Section 2(2) of the NYSC Act (2004), the only excluded Nigerians from the mandatory participation in the scheme are those who attained the age of 30 before their date of graduation, those who served in the Nigerian armed forces or the Police for more than nine months, staff of Nigerian security organisations, and those conferred with national honours.

Born on 1 November 1974, Ms. Musawa graduated from the University of Buckingham and the Nigerian Law School before age 30 and is therefore eligible for national service.

Culled from Premium times

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NationalUpdate Woman

World Menstrual Day: Kogi First Lady leads advocacy

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Promotion of menstrual hygiene among women and girls in Kogi state is a priority, Kogi State First Lady, Hajia Sefinat Usman Ododo has restated

In her message to commemorate this year’s World Menstrual Hygiene Day, Mrs Ododo reiterated the importance of creating awareness among women and girls to promote menstrual hygiene and dignity.

The Kogi State First Lady decried the poor menstrual health and hygiene challenge affecting millions of women and girls on account of exclusion stigmatization, and inferiority complex because of their periods.
She promised to ensure provision of access to quality menstrual products, period education and period-friendly toilets.

Hajia Ododo promised to join other stakeholders around the world to raise awareness and promote good menstrual health and hygiene beyond the commemoration of the World Menstrual Hygiene Day.

The First Lady also promised access to affordable menstrual products, elimination of period stigma and shame, basic menstruation information for all, and improve access to period-friendly facilities in public spaces.

The First Lady noted that while awareness has grown in the past 10 years, a lot more needs to be done in this regard.

“Today, more and more of us are working towards a #PeriodFriendlyWorld beyond 28 May.

Menstrual Hygiene Day is a global problem affecting over 500 million women and girls worldwide. Despite progress, many still face challenges in managing their periods safely and with dignity.

The day’s theme, “Together for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld,” emphasizes the importance of collaboration and inclusivity. We invite everyone to participate in events, share their stories, and advocate for menstrual health and hygiene,” she stated.

Hajiya Sefinat Ododo called on well meaning individuals, organizations, and government at all levels to join forces in creating a world where no one is held back because of lack of access to menstrual health and hygiene.

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Communique of one-day summit for female Cameroonian refugees in Nigeria

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COMMUNIQUE OF WOMEN AND GIRL’S WHO ARE CAMEROONIAN REFUGEES IN NIGERIA SETTLED IN UTANGA OF OBANLIKU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, ADAGOM 1, ADAGOM 2 AND UKENDE IN OGOJA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF CROSS RIVER STATE AND IKYOGEN IN KWANDE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF BENUE STATE; BEING AN OUTCOME OF A ONE-DAY SUMMIT ORGANIZED BY CENTRE FOR WOMEN STUDIES AND INTERVENTION (CWSI) SUPPORTED BY AFRICAN WOMEN DEVELOPMENT FUND (AWDF), HELD ON  23RD, 24th, 25th 26th FEBRUARY RESPECTFULLY.

PREAMBLE: We, the Women and Girls who are Cameroonian refugees residing in Obanliku Local Government, and in Adagom 1, Adagom 3 and Ukende in Ogoja Local Government Area of Cross River State and in Ikyogen of Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State and which participated in the above captioned summit hereby jointly express our collective standpoint on the current state of sojourning in Nigeria as follows;

APPRECIATION:

We wish to collectively thank the Nigerian Government for being their African brothers’ and sisters’ keepers by providing a safe haven for the thousands of Cameroonians refugees who sought refuge in Nigeria as a result of the civil conflict in southern Cameroon. The Nigerian Federal Government and the State Governments of Cross River and Benue have in the spirit of Pan-Africa demonstrated exemplary care of Africa motherhood through the National Commission for Migrants Refugees and Internally displaced Persons (NCFMRI) and the State’s Emergency Management Agency (SEMA)which has very well ensured our protection and peaceful habitation in the various communities we are residing. Secondly, we wish to profoundly express our very deeply heart felt gratitude to the United Nations which through its partnership with the Government of Nigeria and the services of its agency, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) have provided us with necessaries; accommodation, water, health care services and basic education funding for our children. We also wish to immensely thank the Host Communities where we are settled for peaceful co-existence, brotherly and sisterly love and various forms of assistances they have rendered Cameroonian sojourners.

On specific and well deserving recognition; we are grateful to African Women Development Fund(AWDF) for their sterling contribution to our lives through the Inform Parents and Children Together on Sexual and Gender Based Violence (INPACT ON-SGBV) Project which they funded Centre for women Studies and Intervention(CWSI) to implement and which is currently on-going. The project which has women and girls as beneficiaries is positively imparting and impacting the lives of refugees particularly through the formation of a Girl Child Movement (GCM) which is followed up by 6 months mentoring course for the empowerment of young women and girls who are vulnerable to SGBV. The project since inception has used its unique strategies to educate and conscientized women, girl, boys and men to adopt an improved behavioral practice which not only respects the dignity of persons but enhance human development and freedom from violence.

Furthermore, their welfare packs, psycho-social counselling and medical bill assistance for refugees suffering ill health has been tremendously helpful and beneficial.

We also wish to recognize the enormous contribution of other Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) whose humanitarian services and development work has brought relief to our travails. They have been a great source of inspiration, fortitude, resilience and hope away from home. The organizations which we hereby respectfully and gratefully acknowledged are as follows; Caritas Nigeria, Save The Children, Rema Care, Cuso International and Red Cross.

STATE OF AFFAIRS AND PRESENT CONCERN:

Even though we appreciate all the support given to refugees in Nigeria, particularly women and girls we still wish to solicit for more support to sustain the good works of these organizations and to reach outto many women and girls who are still in need of assistance. Our dire needs and present concern is as follows:

HUMANITARIAN SUPPORT; we wish to request for more humanitarian support as aid for refugees has dwindled in current times. Many women and girls live in austere lack and want of basic necessaries, especially, toiletries, mosquito nets, menstrual kits, mattresses, mats and blankets. We appeal to individuals, philanthropists and organizations whether local, multinational and telecommunication companies to give their support to this need.

HUNGER; this is the biggest problem we are contending with. To have a sustainable solution, apart from food donations, we appeal to humanitarian organizations and companies willing to execute corporate social responsibility to assist us with life Skill capacity building programmes that can be utilized for entrepreneurship and self-reliance as a dependable pathway to overcoming hunger. We hereby appeal to the members of the host communities to extend the privileges of allocating portions of farmland to refugees in need of land for agriculture.

EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT; Our collective gratitude goes to the UNCHR and Save the Children for the free-education opportunity created for our children to go school. However, there are basic educational needs which many of our children lack. These are, school uniforms, text books, school bags and school shoes and dearth of Teachers etc. Furthermore, there is need for increased attention to be given to pupils who have graduated from primary school to access secondary school education. We shall be grateful to see that these needs are provided through any NGO or humanitarian agency.

PROVISION OF WATER AND RENOVATION OF TOILETS AND BATHROOMS; There is a general deterioration of toilet and water facility in the refugee settlements and host communities. This situation has made life uncomfortable for refugees and the host communities. The make-shift toilets provided in the settlement are now dilapidated. Also, the bore holes have become inadequate to serve the population in the settlements. Access to water is still a problem for some refugees. We hereby appeal to generous funding agencies/organization to kindly respond to and improve the water shortage situation in the settlements as well as renovation of toilets and bathrooms.

EMPLOYMENT OF MID-WIFE’ IN HEALTH-CARE CENTERS; The absence of mid-wife’ in the health care centers provided for refugees is a huge challenge for pregnant mothers. This has contributed to infant and maternal mortality of refugees. We shall be very grateful to see improvement in the health care service delivery to the refugees and we appeal to the appropriate authorities to come to our aid.

CONCLUSION; We once again thank CWSI, other national/International organizations, the state and the Nigerian government as a whole for adding value to our lives. We appeal to the government of Nigeria to continue the good works of protecting refugees by improving security in the refugee settlements.

As women, many of us have lost our husbands, children, parents and relatives in the Cameroon conflict. Though we are displaced and experiencing various challenges at the moment our indomitable spirit of the African women is not subdued. We are determined and focused as women and girls’ group to live above our challenges and create a new world of freedom for the girl child. We have a living hope of perseverance and optimism that the long dark night will be over and the dawn of a new era will emerge. The day is coming when we and our children will return back to live in a new Cameroon where every citizen will live in human dignity, justice and peace.

Signed by: Representatives of concerned female Cameroonian refugees
NYENTY OBI STEPHANIE, VICTORINE NDIFON ATOP, ANYOR PEACE ODEY MARCELINE

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Clark tells Tinubu to set up special Military Task Force to rescue Chibok Girls, others

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***Blames him for failure to rescue tgen after 10years

Elderstatesman and Leader of the Ijaw Nation, Chief Edwin Clark, has urged President Bola Tinubu to set up a special military task force to rescur the remaining Chibok School Girls and others still in the captivity of the Boko Haram insurgents.

The Ijaw national leader gave the indication at a news conference in Abuja to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Chibok Girls abduction by the dreaded Islamic sect.

He said the special military task force should be coordinated by a courageous military

While expressing displeasure over the failure of past administrations to rescue the girls, Clark urged President Bola Tinubu to leave no stone unturned to secure the release of the girls.

“About 90 of them are still missing after 10 years. This should be a source of worry and concern to any government of a nation.

“Tinubu should appoint a special taskforce with brave soldiers, competent, transparent and not nepotic.

According to the elderstatesman “It appears to some of us that the President Tinubu’s Government is not serious in the effort to rescue the remaining Chibok girls.
“About ninety (90) of them are still missing after ten (10) years. This should be a source of worry and concern to any government of a serious nation.

“I recall that in October, 2020, when a United States of America (USA) citizen, Mr. Philip Walton was held hostage between Niger Republic and Nigeria, the government of the United States deployed one of its machineries, the Naval Special Warfare group, popularly known as SEAL Team Six, who rescued Mr. Walton in Nigeria.
” The then President of the US, Mr. Donald Trump, followed the matter to up to conclusion. When the Mr. Philip was rescued,
“President Trump was so excited that a citizen of his country held hostage had been rescued and described the action as “big win for our very elite U. S. Special Forces.” Also, speaking on the incident, the then US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, said “The United States is committed to the safe return of all U. S. citizens taken captive.
“We delivered on that commitment late last night in Nigeria, where some of our bravest and most skilled warriors rescued a U. S. citizen after a group of armed men took him hostage across the border in Niger”.
Clark wandered why the case of Nigeria is different.
According to him,In the case of the U. S., it was just one person, yet the government of the country went all out to ensure his rescue.
“In Nigeria, we are still talking about 90 girls still missing, ten years after.
Explaining further he said the Nigerian government bungled fresh negotiation to free Chibok girls
He said he led a high-level negotiations between the Nigerian government team and Boko Haram insurgents, to secure the release of 220 Chibok girls saying that it crumbled

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