After her NYSC, she was retained to work with the Ministry of Justice Minna and served there about eight and half years.
Zainab worked at the Central Bank of Nigeria from May 1989 till December 2004 when she retired to start up her own legal consulting firm.
The Chinese state-owned company was to build a 3,050-megawatt hydropower plant in Mambilla, Plateau in Taraba state.
October 30, 2012, after a Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, President Jonathan directed that she swap her role with the former minister of state for Niger Delta Affairs, Dairus Ishaku.
President Jonathan said the minor cabinet reshuffling was to strengthen the sectors in order to meet the expectations of Nigerians.