President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Mrs Amina Bala Zakari as the Acting Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) following the conclusion of the term of Office of Prof. Attahiru Jega.
This was announced in a statement Tuesday by Haruna R Imrana,director communications ,office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation
According the statement ,The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation Barr. Danladi Kifasi who conveyed the appointment in a letter, said it is with effect from 30th June 2015 until the appointment of a substantive Chairman.
Mrs. Zakari is presently a National Electoral Commissioner at INEC.
Jega Quits
Jega had earlier handed over to Amb Mohammed Wali pending the announcement of an acting Chairman by the president.
An official account from the commission Tuesady said in a brief ceremony in his office, the INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru M. Jega this afternoon handed over to one of the National Commissioners, Ambassador Mohammed Ahmad Wali. Ambassador Wali’s tenure as National Commissioner will expire on 11th August 2015.
Professor Jega explained to the National Commissioners who attended the handing over ceremony that he had written a letter to the President reminding him that his tenure would expire yesterday (29/6/2015) and that he had proposed to hand over to one of the National Commissioners whose tenure was yet to expire.
He thanked Ambassador Wali for accepting to act as Chairman of the Commission in spite of the short notice he was served.
Professor Jega gave the Acting Chairman the following documents: Handing over notes; Detailed reports with appendixes; Reports from the departments; Three attachments on specific reports/projects being funded by the Ford Foundation and UNDP; Financial statement; and Up to date Statement of Account.
Professor Jega said he was leaving gratified and thankful to Almighty Allah
He thanked the National Commissioners for their camaraderie, teamwork and support. Said he: “May God Almighty continue to bless all of us and our future endeavours. I wish you the best.”
In his response, the Acting Chairman, Ambassador Mohammed Ahmad Wali quoted Shakespeare, saying Professor Jega came, saw and conquered.
Ambassador Wali lauded Professor Jega for raising the status of the Commission.
He said the six weeks during which he would serve will be critical as the Commissioners remaining had to work together to sustain the momentum of the reforms initiated under Professor Jega’s watch.
Ambassador Wali expressed confidence that with the support of his colleagues the Commission should be able to measure up.
He promised to host a befitting send off party for the outgone Chairman and the other National Commissioners whose tenures had expired.
Seven National Commissioners attended the ceremony. They are: Dr. Ishmael Igbani, Engr. Dr. Nuru Yakubu, Dr. Abdulkadir Oniyangi, Hajiya Amina B. Zakari, Dame Gladys Nne Nwafor, Barr. Thelma Iremiren, and Ambassador Lawrence Nwuruku.
Amina Zakari’s Profile
Read a profile of Amina Zakari as published by INEC website below:
Amina Bala Zakari, a pharmacist by profession hails from Jigawa State. She completed her Secondary Education from the prestigious Queens College Yaba, Lagos. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science (B.sc) degree in Pharmacy with Second Class upper (Best Graduating Student) in 1980 from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
After completing the National Youth Service, she worked as a Professional Pharmacist in various hospitals from 1983 – 1996. She then moved into the consultancy field to serve in various capacities as a consultant in Health and Social Services from 1997 up till her appointment as National Commissioner, INEC. She has also served as a Special Assistant to the President and was posted to FCT where she served as Secretary of Health and Human Services, Social Development and Agriculture and Rural Development from 2004 – 2007.
Her Consultancy services covered Federal MDAs (FMWH, NAFDAC, NPHCDA etc) MDGs and the Private Sector.
Amina Bala Zakari is a registered Pharmacist and Member Pharmacist’s Society of Nigeria as well as Member of Nigeria Institute of Management (MNIM).
Other qualifications obtained include, Certificate in Managing Drugs Supply for Primary Health Care from MHS Amsterdam in 1997, Certificate in Project Management 1998, Certificate in Senior Management from Crown Agents London in 2005 Certificate in Executive Education in Business Management from Harvard Business School.
