[The Injustice Blog] Halimatu Idris is one of the few public servants recording actual success, she would have kept her job if she wasn’t a woman

Education, Halimatu Idris

Until 1999 ushered in a new democratic dispensation, there were scarcely any representation of women in positions of power and influence in Nigerian politics. Presidents like Goodluck Jonathan and Olusegun Obasanjo went to great lengths to create spaces for women to excel in politics in their governments. Today we have female deputy Governors, female Commissioners, Ministers among other important positions open to women.

However this does not mean they are yet to be fully recognized for their talents, knowledge and skills, or even offered a proper opportunity to use these talents towards nation building. The current administration of President Buhari has less women in his government compared to the preceding administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan and this exists in other states of the federation too.

The recent sack of Professor Halimatu Idris the Katsina state Commissioner for education has once again showed the efforts and achievements of women in politics and public office offers them no real insurance against the whims of the men in power. The appointment which was unusual in the first place owning to the disposition of Northerners having women in leadership position has once again set women to the background in that region.

The performance of the commissioner is not in doubt as the Governor himself listed her achievements but she still has to go because he needs a second term and she may be an “obstruction” to the realization of that goal. It is hard to imagine that this decision is not in part influenced by the general attitude of men in political office towards women of Northern origin.

There is nothing wrong in removing and replacing commissioners, it’s a fact Masari holds the power to hire and fire but why must he chose to fire a star in his administration? It is evident he desperately needs a second term and he has chosen to let the woman go because she might not play into the roles he might need her to get into associated with elections or sabotage education in Katsina state to give the governor manifesto points.

If Professor Halimatu Idris was to be a man she wouldn’t have been removed from that position but because such appointments may form the discourse in the 2019 campaigns as the environment doesn’t appreciate women being in leadership position. Masari has decided to ease her out, it’s another sign that we are yet to get comfortable with seeing women in leadership Position.

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