SAHARA REPORTERS
SaharaReporters learnt that the two ministers – though for different reasons – have not attended any Federal Executive Council meeting since the inauguration of this government.
Two Nigerian ministers – Lola Ade-John of the Ministry of Tourism and Hannatu Musawa of the Ministry of Art, Culture and Creative Economy – have been missing in action almost since they were sworn in by President Bola Tinubu in August.
SaharaReporters learnt that the two ministers – though for different reasons – have not attended any Federal Executive Council meeting since the inauguration of this government.
Tinubu presided over the fourth FEC meeting of his administration on Monday, October 29, 2023, and Ms Ade-John and Ms Musawa were again missing.
As for Ms Ade-John, she is currently receiving treatment in a hospital in London, United Kingdom, SaharaReporters learnt on Tuesday.
Sources told SaharaReporters that Ms Ade-John was seriously ill contrary to the claims made by the tourism ministry, which has been downplaying her health condition.
“Lola Ade-John is very ill and receiving treatment in a London hospital,” one of the sources said.
The Peoples Gazette in September reported that Ms Ade-John had been hospitalised in Abuja after suffering acute poisoning of unknown origin and that her family members were afraid that time was running against their efforts to save her life.
It reported that family sources said Ms Ade-John, 60, was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, shortly after she started manifesting symptoms of poisoning.
Meanwhile, Ms Ade-John’s counterpart in the art, culture and creative economy ministry, Ms Musawa has been laying low for her controversy regarding the mandatory one-year national service to blow over.
In August, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) confirmed that Ms Musawa was currently doing her one-year youth service and therefore, occupying the ministerial position is in breach of the NYSC Act.
The NYSC Director, Press and Public Relations, Eddy Megwa, stated this, saying the scheme would take the necessary action on the matter.
SaharaReporters had earlier reported that a civic group, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) said that Musawa was still a serving corps member.
HURIWA, in a statement signed by its National President, Emmanuel Onwubiko, had said the minister was posted to Onyilokwu Onyilowa and Co., said to be located at the old Banex Plaza, Abuja.
In a statement titled: “You can’t be a serving NYSC Corper and Minister at the Same Time” HURIWA posted her NYSC details as FC/23A/505 and urged her to resign.
Speaking with Daily Trust about the issue, the NYSC spokesperson confirmed that the minister had been serving for the previous eight months in the FCT.
He explained that it was against the NYSC Act for any corps member to pick up any government appointment until the one-year service was over.
He said Ms Musawa was originally mobilised in 2001 for the youth service to Ebonyi State where she had her orientation programme but later relocated to Kaduna State to continue the programme.
He said it was when she got to Kaduna that she absconded and didn’t complete the programme.
Megwa noted that the scheme would look into the issue and take action where necessary.
