Nigeria’s leading online newspaper, Transport & Business Express, has queried the appointment of Dame Patience Jonathan, First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as a Permanent Secretary in the Bayelsa State Civil Service.

Dame Jonathan, a native of Rivers State but Bayelsan by marriage, worked in the state civil service before her husband started to climb up politically in 1999. Her announcement as a Perm Sec alongside 18 others has raised eyebrows since it was made yesterday.

Querying Madam Jonathan’s appointment, Transport & Business Express said in a statement issued today in Lagos:

“How could Dame Patience Jonathan combine the role of First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with that of Permanent Secretary in the Bayelsa State Civil Service? There should be a better way for Hon. Seriake Dickson to compensate President Goodluck Jonathan for making him Governor.

“This is a very unfortunate development which inadvertently legitimises the ghost worker syndrome, for how could a woman who is leading a busy life in Abuja be able to put in commensurate work to earn her pay as Per Sec in far away Yenegoa?

“Or is Dame Jonathan going to work without pay? In that case, what is the essence of her appointment? We hope this ill-advised appointment is not an indication that Dame Jonathan has been drawing salary from the Bayelsa State Civil Service where she worked before her husband became Deputy Governor, Governor, Vice President of Nigeria, Acting President and finally President.

“If that is the case, we strongly recommend that Dame Jonathan should return any such funds for, at best, she has been on leave of absence from the Bayelsa State Civil Service since her husband became Deputy Governor in 1999.”