Arewa Christian Group Accuses FG of Persecuting Northern Christians in Civil Service Promotions‎‎‎

 

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‎The Arewa Christians and Indigenous Pastors Association (ACIPA) has accused the Federal Government of perpetrating systematic persecution against Northern Christians in the civil service, alleging that a Christian candidate who topped the recent interview for the position of Federal Permanent Secretary was unjustly sidelined.
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‎In an open letter addressed to President Bola Tinubu, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Minister of Justice, and the leadership of the National Assembly, ACIPA described the development as “a continuation of the long-standing denial of rights, marginalisation, and persecution of Christians in Northern Nigeria.”
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‎According to the statement signed by the group’s Chairman, Rev. (Dr.) Luke Shehu, the association’s attention was drawn to the outcome of a recent interview for the appointment of new Permanent Secretaries.
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‎ The group alleged that a Northern Christian from the North-East, who scored 83 percent and emerged first, was overlooked, while one Mohammed Musa Isiyaku, who came fifth with 54 percent—was announced as Permanent Secretary by the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation on November 4, 2025.
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‎“For the avoidance of doubt, despite the 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 continually been denied rights to employment, scholarships, and appointments,” ACIPA stated.
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‎The association condemned what it called a “travesty of justice and religious discrimination,” warning that such acts threaten national unity and peace. “We are aware of the ongoing process to swear in the said Mohammed as the Permanent Secretary instead of the qualified Christian,” the group alleged.
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‎ACIPA further called on religious leaders, monarchs, legislators, ministers, and all civil rights advocates to speak out against what it described as an entrenched bias within the system.
‎“True to our calling as advocates of peace, unity, social justice, and development, we are not only renouncing and rejecting this travesty but are also calling on all concerned to correct this abnormality immediately,” the letter read.
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‎Rev. Shehu urged authorities to halt the swearing-in process pending a thorough review of the interview results, insisting that “the persecution of Christians in the North has almost become a norm — a trend that is no longer acceptable.”
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‎The letter was also copied to religious leaders, traditional rulers, members of the National Assembly, ministers, federal commissioners, the media, NGOs, INGOs, and security agencies.