By Mu’azu Abubakar Albarkawa, Kaduna
Emir of Zazzau, Mallam Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli has demanded for the appointment of professionals as Secretaries of State and local Governments administration to ensure good governance.
He stated this while receiving on courtesy call Members of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria, ICSAN led by the National President, Fumi Akundayo at Emir’s palace in Zaria.
The Emir represented by the Wazirin Zazzau, Khadi Mohammed Aminu Inuwa who was also a former judge suggested to the institute to replicate what was obtained at the ministry of justice where only lawyers with requisite post call experience were appointed as attorney generals.
According to him,the institute should liaise with key stakeholders to insist that Secretary to the State Government, Permanent Secretaries in charge of administration were appointed from the cohorts of the institute.
“Work with the State Ministries of Local Government to also insist that secretaries of the local governments were not just political apologists to the chairman or ruling party but members of ICSAN.
“ With this, you may be able to get through to the politicians in state governments, perhaps some continuity and sanity may emerge,’’ he said.
He also advised the institute to reach-out to corporate bodies and insist that only a lawyer with additional qualification from ICSAN would be appointed as Secretary/ Legal Adviser.
“You are at home and I want to assure you that you have the support and the blessing of the traditional institution coming from the Chairman of the Kaduna State Council of Traditional Rulers.
Earlier, Mrs Funmi Ekundayo, President and Chairman Governing Council, Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN) described the suggestions from the royal father as very insightful and the institute would look at ways of advocating it.
The president explained that the institute was in Kaduna State to inaugurate the state chapter of the institute.adding that the visit to Zaria was to seek royal blessing from the royal father and ask for support in making the institute a beacon of governance as it escalates state chapters.
Ekundayo said the 57-years old institute was a corporate governance institute with a focus on enhancing the practice and status of good governance across board.
She said the institute was the only professional body in Nigeria empowered by law to conduct examinations leading to qualifications as chartered secretaries and administrators of Nigeria.
According to her, the institute was an offshoot of the UK ICSAN and it was chartered by ICSAN Act 1991 as amended.
The newly inaugurated Chairman of the institute, Kaduna state chapter, Alhaji Habibu Tijjani Mohammed had earlier pledged to widen the scope to all parts of the north.
Tijjani Mohammed hoped that the institute will receive significant membership in all sectors Kaduna state and beyond.
Similarly, the institute was also at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria for collaboration and partnership to further entrench the presence of the institute in Northern Nigeria.
At ABU, the team was received by Prof. Raymond Bako, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics).
Ekundayo said the partnership would be hinged on having a linkage programme with ABU to harmonize the ICSAN module with the university’s curriculum.
The harmonization would enable the students to start the ICSAN’s examination while they were undergraduates and get dual benefits; the professional and academic certificates.
Responding, Prof. Raymond Bako, Deputy Vice Chancellor said ABU subscribes to the aims and objectives of ICSAN.
He advised the institute to draft a Memorandum of Understanding to spell the terms of the collaboration between the parties.
