Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, is in a distressing situation.
She has been accused of allocating N4 billion for office rent without formal approval from the Federal Executive Council (FEC), as required by government regulations.
She has also been accused of sacking highly qualified officials, replacing them with less experienced personnel.
The Coalition for Transparency, Equity and Justice, a non-profit organisation, raised these concerns over Musawa’s financial and administrative decisions which, it believes, are against the policies of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
Exercising its rights under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), the coalition has written to the Minister, demanding an explanation for the decision to allocate N4 billion for office rent.
The property in question, a glass house located along ICPC Road in Abuja, allegedly received a N3 billion payment — reportedly in tranches — without formal approval from FEC.
The coalition claims the payment exceeded the approval limit for Ministers and was made to a former governor from a South-East state.
It is also questioning the minister’s alleged mass layoffs of highly qualified officials, replacing them with less experienced personnel. The group further alleges that Musawa recommended around 50 aides for employment within the Ministry, raising further concerns about due process and governance.
Musawa is no stranger to controversy. In 2020, her nomination as a National Pension Commission Board member was rejected by the Senate due to her inability to provide a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate or exemption letter. She later secured a Special Adviser role under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in June 2023 before being appointed Minister in October 2024.
Despite lingering NYSC-related controversies, Musawa has repeatedly defended herself, insisting she fulfilled all legal requirements. A Federal High Court ruling in April 2024 dismissed a case challenging her eligibility, citing a lack of legal standing by the plaintiffs.
With public scrutiny mounting, the coalition’s FOIA request is a test of the transparency and accountability measures within the Ministry. As the allegations unfold, stakeholders are keenly watching for the Minister’s response and the government’s stance on the issue.
