CSO Petitions Minister Musa Musawa Over N4bn Office Rent, Over Bloated Aides, Others

The Coalition for Transparency, Equity and Justice, has beamed its search light on the activities of the Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy under the watch of Minister Hannatu Musa Musawa.

The coalition which is a civil society organisation (CSO) agitating for human rights, transparency, equity and justice is relying on the Freedom of Information Act to demand for some clarifications from the ministry pertaining the rent of an office complex at the staggering amount of four billion naira.

The Freedom of Information Act (FOI) was passed in 2011 to make public records and information more accessible and gives Nigerians the right to request for information from public institutions, companies with government control, and private companies that provide public services.

In a letter signed by the Executive Secretary of the Coalition, Dr. Chima Chibuike to the Ministry, the coalition demanded needed information on the N3billion which had allegedly been paid to the landlord of the property in instalments.

The coalition is specifically seeking information on why the ministry paid a colossal sum of N3billion out of the N4billion as rent without getting approval from the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for the glass house office which is located along ICPC Road Abuja, in spite of the fact it was beyond the threshold of approval limit.

The amount according to the coalition, was allegedly split in segments to avoid being detected, and queried for a year and four months the rent is on.

The coalition noted that concerned stakeholders within the ministry advised the minister against paying the whopping sum without the approval of FEC for the rent of the glass house office.

It further stated that the concerned staff who were visibly worried are curious to know how the five billion take off grant for the ministry and another five billion take off grant from the former Ministry of Tourism, under the watch of Lola Ade-John were expended.

The coalition is also demanding to know why the minister allegedly relieved experienced top officials of the ministry of their duties and replaced with neophyte and inexperienced personnel.

The coalition in the letter also said that the minister, Hannatu Musa Musawa was allegedly instrumental to the appointment of a 32-year-old grade level 9 officer with the Bank of Industry as Director General (DG) of the National Gallery of Arts, Ahmed Sodangi, who is believed to be her step son.

The coalition said; “It is instructive that the Bank of Industry where Sodangi last worked before emerging as DG of the National Gallery of Arts, sponsored major Arts exhibition in London and Nigeria but that should not be a yardstick for his appointment”.

The coalition also said that the minister equally recommended the appointment of about 50 aides, a move it noted was outrageous and on the high side.

It would be recalled the minister, Hannatu Musa Musawa had faced criticisms for failing to provide evidence of her participation in the mandatory one year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme during her appearance before the Senate for screening and confirmation.

However, in April 2024, a Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed the case against her as the court presided over by Justice James Omotosho held that the plaintiffs lacked the legal standing to institute the matter before the court.

On account of this ruling, Musawa declared that ‘the issue has been settled legally.’

Speaking on the matter with a popular television station, Musawa said “her intention is to focus on her responsibilities in office rather than engaging with the controversy.

“The matter had been adjudicated and one day, I will come out with my account. I have probably done more NYSC than you (presenter).

“I have done at least two NYSCs in my life. I think, what I owe Nigerians is to say that I didn’t do anything wrong. I didn’t break the law. The NYSC I did and finished. That is the much I can tell you. Everything I did was by the law.

Those close to Musawa squealed that just like the NYSC saga in which she came out unscathed, nothing will come out of the payment of N3billion issues because Musawa is close to the power brokers.

The Special Assistant Media and Publicity to the Minister, Dr. Nneka Ikem-Anibeze, while reacting to the allegations, said she was not aware of the office rented by the ministry.

According to Ikem-Anibeze; “The ministry operates from the Federal Secretariat, Abuja. We are located at the Federal Secretariat, Head of Service, First Floor. We have not rented any office for 4b”.

On the appointment of the DG of NGA, Ikem-Anibeze said she was not aware of him being the minister’s step son just as she said that the 50 aides employed by the minister, come to the office, saying; “That’s why I gave you the address. Come. No insults here. I haven’t been able to verify a single accusation. The Honourable minister operates from the Federal Secretariat. All meetings are from here. One million aides all operate from the Federal secretariat”.