By Chris Udochukwu
ABUJA – Human Rights Activist, Comrade Shehu Sani has appealed to Zamfara State government to rescind its decision to reject the appointment of Dr. Maryam Ismaila Keshinro as the permanent secretary representing the state in the top administrative cadre of the Civil Service of the Federation.
Reacting to the report of Dr Maryam’s rejection on his X account, Shehu Sani said: “Dr Maryam is from Zamfara state. I appeal to the Government of Zamfara to rescind their decision to reject her. Be proud of your good product and one of the best female medical professionals in the Country. She represent the good image of Zamfara. No person should be rejected because of the religious identity of his/her parents or the ethnic identity of his/her spouse.
Please reconsider.
Precise Post recalls that Governor Dauda Lawal rejected the federal permanent secretary appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday night.
Further recall that Tinubu on June 28 approved the appointment of Maryam Ismaila Keshinro and seven others as permanent secretaries to fill existing and pending vacancies of some states and geo-political zones in the Civil Service of the Federation.
But the Zamfara State government rejected the appointment of Ismaila, alleging that she is not an indigene of the state and is also not qualified to hold the position.
According to Premium Times, Zamfara’s Head of Service, Ahmad Liman,
Zamfara State government in a letter dated 24 May 2024 and addressed to the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, said that Mrs Ismaila is not an indigene of the state and cannot legally represent the people of the state and must be dropped.
The letter reads: “Consequent upon the commencement of the appointment process of the Permanent Secretaries in the Federal Civil Service, issues arose that stirred the collective attention of the good people of Zamfara State as the par representative capacity of candidates deployed in the process, most especially the potential candidate pencilled for the appointment on the post of a permanent secretary purported from Zamfara State.
“The moves not only failed to meet the requirements provided under the eligibility criteria enshrined in the Public Service Rules (as revised) but also the requisite for the said post offends the content of a recent Federal Government Circular No. MH.7205/T/31 dated 7th September 2023, on Tenure policy respecting clinical Officers/Personnel since the potential candidate that wrongly claimed representation of the good people of Zamfara State is clinical personnel.
It’s worthy of note to clarify from the onset, that the candidate infracted the key provision of Eligibility Criteria of the PSR, especially Rules 020811 (e) (f) which linked the requirements to indigeneship.
“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.”
It’s against, this background, that I am therefore, directed to appeal to the collective conscience of the offices of the Head of the Federation and indeed all critical stakeholders to drop the candidacy of MARYAM IBRAHIM ALIYU or by whatever name called (Keshinro Maryam Ismaila) for the post of a Permanent Secretary in the Federal Civil Service in representation for the good people of Zamfara State to allow bonafide indigene of Zamfara extraction in the Federal Civil Service to legally and positively compete for the post.
Lest, we may recover from being the least represented state in the Federal Civil Service and at the same time seek the satisfaction of the Constitutional requirements enshrined in section 14 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the state government added.
Reports have it that Ismaila is from Tsafe Local Government Area of the state, contrary to claims by the state government.
Both her grandparents were born to a popular Christian family in Tsafe town.
The Keshinro appearing in her name is her husband’s name, who is Yoruba.
Mrs Ismaila’s late parents were Christians from the Hausa minority Christians found in Tsafe LGA. Her late father was an ECWA church pastor and was a very popular clergyman.
This position also confirmed the statement by Shehu Sani that “Dr Maryam is from Zamfara state.
