By Mumini AbdulKareem and Bukola Adama
Permanent Secretary, Kwara State liaison office, Abuja, Alhaji Abubakar Ishiak and his counterpart in the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Science and Technology, Alhaji Jibril Baba Haruna (JAB) were among those whose names emerged last night as likely successors to outgoing Head of Service (HoS), Hajia Zarah Omar.
This is coming just as Omar refused to comment on her stewardship in the state.
Omar will officially bow out of service on Friday September 1 after attaining the mandatory 35 years of active service.
She attended her last State Executive Council meeting on Wednesday in Ilorin and was commended by Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed for her dedication to the development of the civil service.
The outgoing HoS appreciated the Governor and Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki for, appointing her HoS and Permanent Secretary respectively and the confidence reposed in her.
According to findings by National Pilot last night, the government may likely fill the vacuum created by her exit with another permanent from Kwara North senatorial district after her retirement.
Isiaq was the former permanent secretary, Government House before he was seconded to the liaison office by Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and holds the title of Ciroma of Ilesha-Baruba in Baruten Local Government
Haruna on his part is an indigene of Tsaragi in Patigi Local Government and had once served as a Director in the state Ministry of Agriculture before he was appointed Permanent Secretary Tertiary Education, Science and Technology.
A source who confided in this medium last night on the matter said, “The government has decided to keep it in the north and the two candidates are being considered for the post.”
If any of them is considered for the office, it will be third time a candidate will emerge Head of Service after Muhammed Dabarako and outgoing Zarah Omar.
Attempts to get her to speak on her experience in office were rejected last night when this medium reached out to her during a telephone chat.
“No, no, no, I am not going to talk to you and moreover, I am very busy”, she added.
When she was asked to fix a date for an interview to this regard, she said “I will reach you through my press secretary when I am ready”.
Hajia Omar was appointed as Kwara Head of Service in May 29, 2015 after she had served as permanent secretary in the ministries of Environment and Forestry and Office of the Head of Service in 2011.
She is the first female permanent secretary in Kwara State and was member of the verification committee on primary school staff of the local governments in the state and committee of the draft White Paper of the report of staff Audit physical Verification and Biometric Screening of staff of all the sixteen (16) Local Government Areas in the state.
