However, sources told SaharaReporters that Ismaila’s rejection by the state government has nothing to do with being an indigene or not but everything to do with her father being a Christian cleric during his lifetime.
Zamfara State Government's decision to reject Maryam Ismaila's appointment as permanent secretary was motivated by her father's religious affiliation, sources told SaharaReporters.
The state government on Saturday rejected the appointment of Maryam Ismaila as a permanent secretary by President Bola Tinubu.
According to the state government, Ismaila is not an indigene of Zamfara State.
In a letter to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Zamfara State's Head of Service, Ahmad Liman, expressed concerns about Maryam Ismaila's selection, citing widespread unease in the state.
He requested that the selection committee reconsider her appointment, arguing that it would perpetuate the state's underrepresentation at the federal level and exacerbate existing marginalisation.
However, sources told SaharaReporters that Ismaila’s rejection by the state government has nothing to do with being an indigene or not but everything to do with her father being a Christian cleric during his lifetime.
“Tinubu’s appointment of Maryam from Zamfara as permanent secretary was rejected by the state government because her father was a pastor. Simple!” one of the sources said.
Sources told SaharaReporters that Maryam Ismaila hails from Tsafe Local Government Area of the state and that her father was a pastor in ECWA church, Tsafe.
ECWA is the Evangelical Church Winning All, previously known as the Evangelical Church of West Africa.
“She is Hausa and a medical doctor. She married a Yoruba Muslim and later converted to Islam. Their families are well known in Tsafe town,” another source said.
President Bola Tinubu on Friday approved the appointment of eight new federal permanent secretaries to fill existing and impending vacancies of some states and geo-political zones in the civil service.
Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President, Media and Publicity, said in a statement on Friday that the new permanent secretaries were appointed after a diligent selection process by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
The are Dr Emanso Umobong Okop – Akwa-Ibom, Mr Obi Emeka Vitalis – Anambra, Mahmood Fatima Sugra Tabi’a – Bauchi, Danjuma Mohammed Sanusi – Jigawa, Olusanya Olubunmi – Ondo, Dr Keshinro Maryam Ismaila – Zamfara, Akujobi Chinyere Ijeoma (South-East) and Isokpunwu Christopher Osaruwanmwen (South-South).
“The President anticipates that the new Federal Permanent Secretaries will exercise absolute dedication, diligence and fidelity to the nation in the discharge of their functions and ensure optimum service delivery to the Nigerian people,” said the statement.
But the Zamfara State Government later said, “For all purposes and intendment, the candidate is never an indigene of Zamfara State and would not legally claim or enjoy representation for the sake of the good people of Zamfara State.
“Furthermore, no purported documentation in that respect will legally qualify her to be a bonafide indigene of Zamfara State.”
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