mThe Arewa Christians and Indigenous Pastors Association (ACIPA) has written an open letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), accusing the federal government of continuing discrimination against Northern Christians in public appointments and access to opportunities.
In the letter, the group alleged that Northern and Hausa Christians have been repeatedly denied employment, promotions, scholarships, and other government opportunities, despite being qualified. The pastors claimed that such treatment amounts to a systematic persecution that has gone on for years, especially in Northern states.
ACIPA said that, contrary to official denials, there is clear evidence that Christians in the North face organized discrimination and social exclusion. According to the group, the latest example of this injustice was seen in a recent federal civil service appointment process for Permanent Secretaries.
The association alleged that during the recent interviews for the appointment of new Permanent Secretaries, a Christian candidate from the North-East who scored the highest marks — 83 percent — was unfairly dropped, while another candidate who scored only 54 percent and came fifth was selected instead.
The letter stated that this happened “in the usual perpetuation of denial of rights and persecution of Northern Christians and indigenous people,” and listed states such as Jigawa, Kano, Zamfara, Katsina, Bauchi, Borno, Yobe, Sokoto, and Kebbi as examples where Christians have been marginalized.
ACIPA claimed that the appointment, announced by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation on November 4, 2025, reflected a pattern of bias that has continued under different administrations. The association described the situation as “an outright persecution” and a “travesty of justice.”
In the statement signed by its Chairman, Dr. Luke Shehu, ACIPA called on President Tinubu and Attorney-General Fagbemi to urgently intervene and correct what it described as “a serious injustice.”
Dr. Shehu said the association was aware of plans to swear in the candidate who finished fifth instead of the Christian who came first. “Once again, true to our calling as advocates of peace, unity, social justice and development, we are not only renouncing and rejecting this travesty and persecution, but we are calling on all concerned to correct this abnormality immediately,” he said.
He added that the group’s call was not only for the sake of one person, but also to ensure that fairness and merit are upheld in public service recruitment and promotion. ACIPA further called on human rights groups, civil society organizations, and religious leaders to speak out against what it described as “a pattern of exclusion” faced by Christians in the region.
Complaints about the marginalization of Northern Christians have persisted for decades. Many Christian groups in the North have argued that they are often denied access to public jobs, political positions, and educational opportunities in several states where they are minorities.
In states such as Kano, Sokoto, Zamfara, and Borno, Christians have reported challenges in getting government scholarships or being promoted in public institutions. These complaints have often been dismissed by state governments and northern leaders, who say appointments and opportunities are based on merit and available quotas, not religion.
However, ACIPA insists that the problem is systemic and requires national attention. The association, which describes itself as a network of pastors and indigenous Christian leaders from Northern Nigeria, has been vocal about issues affecting Christian minorities in the region, including violence, political exclusion, and economic inequality.
As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official response from the Presidency or the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation regarding ACIPA’s allegations. The federal government has in the past denied that any section of the country is being persecuted on religious grounds, insisting that its policies promote fairness, inclusivity, and unity.
Nonetheless, ACIPA has urged the government to investigate the recent Permanent Secretary selection process and ensure that qualified candidates are not denied opportunities because of their faith or ethnicity.
“This travesty has almost become a norm. It is no longer acceptable,” the association said. “We appeal to the conscience of all Nigerians and to the federal government to take urgent action so that justice, peace, and unity can prevail.”
