By Secrets Reporters
The Zaria Network for Justice has petitioned the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare over the appointment of Buhari Zailani as Director of Administration at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria, over allegation that he assumed the position without transferring his service from the Federal University of Education, Zaria.
In a petition dated September 19, 2026, and signed by its Secretary, Barrister Dantani Garba Kadade, the group asked the ministry and other relevant authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding Zailani’s appointment and determine whether it complies with the applicable Public Service Rules.
According to the petition, Zailani was brought to ABUTH on April 8, 2025, to occupy the substantive position of Director of Administration, which the group described as the head of the hospital’s administration department under its organisational structure.
They stated that Zailani remained a staff member of the Federal University of Education, Zaria, and had not transferred his service to ABUTH. It claimed that he was occupying the position on leave of absence from his parent institution.
The petition argued that the position of Director of Administration at ABUTH was not one that could be occupied through leave of absence or sabbatical arrangements.
Quoting Public Service Rule 020203 on transfer, the group stated that movement from one scheduled service to another required a formal transfer. It maintained that an officer seeking to occupy a substantive position in another establishment must permanently transfer his service with the approval of the Federal Civil Service Commission.
Similarly, the organisation also quoted Public Service Rule 020501 on secondment, stating that secondment was temporary and could not exceed two years. It further contended that the arrangement should not be used to fill a substantive departmental head position where qualified senior officers were available within ABUTH.
On leave of absence, the petition attributed Public Service Rule 100238, arguing that the arrangement could not be used to occupy a substantive directorship in another federal establishment while retaining one’s position in the parent institution.
The group also quoted Circular Ref. No. SGF/OP/I.S.3/T/39 of 2006, which it said was revised in 2025, claiming that the circular prohibited the use of leave of absence to occupy a substantive directorship in another government agency.
Furthermore, disclosing the implications of Zailani’s continued service arrangement, the group claimed he is enjoying two establishments by retaining his seniority and position at the Federal University of Education, Zaria, while occupying the directorship at ABUTH.
The organisation also alleged that his appointment had obstructed the career progression of qualified officers within the hospital who were eligible for the position of Director of Administration.
It further claimed that the arrangement had contributed to administrative grievances, citing the departments of Physiotherapy, Finance and Accounts, and Works and Maintenance as examples where, according to the petition, junior officers had been appointed contrary to establishment directives.
The group additionally questioned Zailani’s accountability to ABUTH, arguing that his service remained domiciled at the Federal University of Education, Zaria.
In its final note, the Zaria Network for Justice called on the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Federal Civil Service Commission and the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to investigate the matter.
Copies of the petition were sent to the Permanent Secretary, the Director of Hospital Services, the Chairman of the ABUTH Board, the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), ABUTH, the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), ABUTH, and the Chairman of the Senior Staff Association at the hospital.
