₦airaland Forum

ABUJA — A coalition of Northern clerics has accused the Federal Government of religious bias in the appointment of new Permanent Secretaries, alleging that a Christian candidate who scored 83 percent in the recent selection interview was sidelined for a Muslim counterpart who scored 54 percent.

The allegation was made by the Arewa Christians and Indigenous Pastors Association (ACIPA) in an open letter addressed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Minister of Justice, and the leadership of the National Assembly.

The statement, dated November 6, 2025, was signed by Rev. (Dr) Luke Shehu, Chairman of ACIPA.

ACIPA said it was deeply troubled by what it described as another case of religious persecution against Northern Christians in the civil service, noting that the decision mocked merit and fairness in federal appointments.

“Our attention has been drawn to yet another persecution against a Northern Christian with regards to the right to the position of Federal Permanent Secretary following the recent interview,” Shehu said.

The group said the case highlighted a pattern of marginalisation that had persisted for years, especially against Christians in the northern part of the country. It argued that despite repeated denials, the evidence of discrimination in recruitment, scholarships, and promotions remained glaring.

“Despite government’s denial of persecution and systematic genocide against Christians, especially in Northern Nigeria, it is evident that Northern Christians and Hausa Christians in particular have been and are still denied rights of employment, scholarships and appointments,” ACIPA stated.

Citing the outcome of the recent interview for Permanent Secretaries, the group said the top-scoring candidate, a Christian from the North East, was unfairly dropped, while Mohammed Musa Isiyaku, who scored 54 percent and ranked fifth, was announced as Permanent Secretary by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) on November 4, 2025.

“In the usual perpetuation of denial of rights and persecution of Northern Christians and indigenous people, one Mohammed Musa Isiyaku, who scored 54 percent emerging the fifth position, was announced as Permanent Secretary by the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation,” the group said.

The association said it was aware of plans to proceed with the swearing-in of the lower-ranked candidate and urged the government to halt the process immediately.

“We are aware of the ongoing process to swear in the said Mohammed as the Permanent Secretary instead of the qualified Christian,” ACIPA warned.

Rev. Shehu said the group’s stance was not driven by confrontation but by its commitment to fairness, justice, and the protection of all Nigerians irrespective of faith.

“True to our calling as advocates of peace, unity, social justice and development, we are not only renouncing and rejecting the travesty and persecution but we are calling on all concerned to correct this abnormality and travesty with immediate effect,” he said.

The group called on faith leaders, traditional rulers, and civil society advocates to speak up against what it described as a long-standing pattern of injustice, adding that silence in the face of persecution could further divide the country.

“ACIPA is calling on all advocates against persecution and travesty to rise to the occasion and call authorities to order against the persecution of Christians in the North. A travesty that has almost become a norm. This is no longer acceptable,” the group added.

Copies of the letter were sent to religious leaders, monarchs, ministers, lawmakers, media houses, security chiefs, and indigenous organisations, as ACIPA urged collective action to end what it called ‘institutionalised discrimination’ against Northern Christians in public service appointments.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/11/fg-under-fire-for-snubbing-christian-who-topped-permanent-secretary-interview/

The appointment was done before the test. It is possible the candidate that scored 54 points was given the question before the test.

Not surprised. Nigeria is very funny

Truth is, if things are done on Merit in this country, the North will take back seat.
Reason for Quota System.

Quest7777:
Truth is, if things are done on Merit in this country, the North will take back seat.
Reason for Quota System.

they so much love that phrase .one bloke here proudly flaunts it as username .. quota system..another word for ' I no fit compete with my mates'

If Nigeria is ready to tell themselves the truth, you’ll realise that North and South are really different in every aspect..north is backward so don’t be surprised by the quota system

Write to President Trump and the WH.

Tinubu, may your road continue to be rough..

Amin.

Muslim Muslim ticket has nothing to do with merit or competence. It has everything to do with religious supremacy, with an extreme touch of ethnic bigotry

Nigeria isn't making progress because of paddy paddy governance process

The head hitters are at it again, Muslims are wicked set of people

SpaceX:
The head hitters are at it again, Muslims are wicked set of people

Did Muslims also take away your brain? Those that exported Africans to Europe and America under chains are Christian Missionaries

DatNiggaDaz:


Muslim Muslim ticket has nothing to do with merit or competence. It has everything to do with religious supremacy, with an extreme touch of ethnic bigotry

So what can you do? Muslim-Muslim ticket will humiliate you again in 2027

Dalohad:
Write to President Trump and the WH.

Tinubu, may your road continue to be rough..

Amin.

.
You no even get any road. Tinubu has ride on the rough road from a Senator of the Federal Republic in 1992 to President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic, now tell us about your own smooth road

This is unacceptable in any clime.

When did religion become the yardstick for promotion in thecivil service?

simpleseyi:
.
You no even get any road. Tinubu has ride on the rough road from a Senator of the Federal Republic in 1992 to President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic, now tell us about your own smooth road

what what has he achieved apart from answering present among Nigerian presidents? The first task of a president which is security of life and properties his score is f9. Bandits now reign high than the president

Quest7777:
Truth is, if things are done on Merit in this country, the North will take back seat.
Reason for Quota System.

But the country would be the better for it! Alas, their elite don’t see things that way and insist on either being favoured over others or having a veto vote over decisions! They can’t take even 10% of what they’ve dished out to others without resorting to burning down the entire country! Just imagine the unrealised and truncated dreams of otherwise brilliant and hopeful youths….all sacrificed on the alter of nepotism and tribalism!

Dalohad:
Write to President Trump and the WH.

Tinubu, may your road continue to be rough..

Amin.

It is Tinubu’s fault abi? You blame Tinubu for your own failure.

IGBOPROMISE1:
But the country would be the better for it! Alas, their elite don’t see things that way and insist on either being favoured over others or having a veto vote over decisions! They can’t take even 10% of what they’ve dished out to others without resorting to burning down the entire country! Just imagine the unrealised and truncated dreams of otherwise brilliant and hopeful youths….all sacrificed on the alter of nepotism and tribalism!

The reason The Federal Republic of Nigeria is backwards today, just imagine a dull man in every sense of the word like Bello Matawalle been the Minister of defense?

simpleseyi:
Did Muslims also take away your brain? Those that exported Africans to Europe and America under chains are Christian Missionaries

you don't know that the hausa and middle belt dwellers were raided for slavery by the same fulani for Arabs 500years before Christian missionaries...... More African slaves where carried away through the trans-saharan route about ten times more than population taken across the Atlantic ocean. For you to understand the wickedness of Arab and Islam not a single black descendant of the slaves can be found because they are so cruel they killed all of them. In any respect you cannot compare the humane of Christianity to the pattern of Islam

simpleseyi:
So what can you do? Muslim-Muslim ticket will humiliate you again in 2027

"it will favour me & family" humiliation

kiths and kins in Kwara faces all humiliation

simpleseyi:
Did Muslims also take away your brain? Those that exported Africans to Europe and America under chains are Christian Missionaries

Learn your history muslim

The arab muslims were the first to put Africans in chains into Arabia land. The missionaries did same after. Taking a shot at that exposes the true intent of Taqyiyah

Too much Taqyiyah is a cancer to the brain

Who was selling Africans to Europeans?

simpleseyi:
Did Muslims also take away your brain? Those that exported Africans to Europe and America under chains are Christian Missionaries

That is how they keep ruining the country with incompetence.

simpleseyi:
So what can you do? Muslim-Muslim ticket will humiliate you again in 2027

The defenders of impunity, injustice, unfairness and destruction have surfaced.

May the blood of every innocent person that has been spilled because of this Muslim- Muslim ticket be upon your head and those of your supporters. This doom will only favour you and your family.

It's called Federal Character.
Nothing wrong there.

I give up on this contraption called Nigeria!

Godfullsam:
This is unacceptable in any clime.

When did religion become the yardstick for promotion in thecivil service?

Are you a learner?
That's what they do
They do it in Broadway light

You think when America said that there is serious case of PERSECUTION you think it was a joke?

Now look at it playing out.

DatNiggaDaz:


Muslim Muslim ticket has nothing to do with merit or competence. It has everything to do with religious supremacy, with an extreme touch of ethnic bigotry

I am really flabbergasted by some Christians that they are not giving President Tinubu some Onions on how he has successfully hired a lot of Christians in his administration against all odd. That man is detribalize and he is trailblazer of equity and equality which is detriment to his own reelection by the northerners. However, I am not saying there is not Christian genocide but it is not in anyways by the president.

simpleseyi:
Did Muslims also take away your brain? Those that exported Africans to Europe and America under chains are Christian Missionaries

and those that hauled them in chain treaking behind camels throught the sahara dessert to arabia land are muslim slave traders.. they even turned the men to eunich and the women to sex slave reason why u can never see an arab african in the arabia...atleast the former slaves in the west are now citizens, abeg where are the slaves in the arabia today oh! they are dumped in the pacific ocean

simpleseyi:
Did Muslims also take away your brain? Those that exported Africans to Europe and America under chains are Christian Missionaries

why do you think there is no sizable population of blacks in middle east. Like in Americas
They castrated their slaves so they don't populate.
Trans Atlantic slave trade was bad
but the Arab Africa slave trade worst

Reason why people still talk about transatlantic slave trade is because the timeline is closer and there are large population of survivors not much survivors in the Arab slavery.