Bauchi Gov Swears-In 21 Commissioners, 4 Members Of Cabinet

By Shehu Zarge

Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed of Bauchi State on Thursday swore in 21 Commissioners, including the new Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chief of Staff (COS), Deputy Chief of Staff and Private Principal Secretary (PPS), three months after he dissolved the former state cabinet.

Recall that the governor on June 9 dissolved the State Executive Council and other notable political appointees, including the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), the Chief of Staff (CoS) Government House, and all Special Advisers with the exception of four Special Advisers.

The governor, in a brief speech at the ceremony, shortly after the State Chief Judge, Justice Rabiu Talatu administered the oath of office and alligiance to the new appointees, urged the new cabinet officials to exhibit exemplary leadership and diligence in the running of government affairs.

He said that they were chosen on merit and advised them to be fair to all Bauchi residents irrespective of tribe, religion or political leanings, warning them against indolence and the temptation to embezzle public funds.

“You must live above board by bringing in your wealth of knowledge and experience into play in order to accelerate the developmental efforts of the administration as time is fast running and the wheels of progress must not slow down.

“I must also remind you that you own your various constituencies of positive representation in government because you are expected to serve as ambassadors of your people and let them know what we are doing for their well being”. 

“I took my time to reassemble this cabinet in order not to make mistakes because 2023 is fast approaching, therefore we need to consolidate our political grip so that we can easily get a second term to serve the people of the state,” Governor Mohammed said.

He also advised them to be prudent in the management of limited resources, especially in view of lean resources available to the state, stressing that winning elections is all about carrying people along about projects execution.

Mohammed assured that his administration will continue to embark on projects and programs that will structurally develop the state to an enviable status in the country, adding that he will work with the appointees for progress.

The Governor urged the appointees to cultivate a smooth working relationship with the Legislative arm which he noted is led by the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state. 

“I want you to work closely with members of the State House of Assembly because they are my Bosses, we are working in collaboration for the good of the state, respect them and relate with them well, anything short of this will bring about rancor between us which will slow us down”, he added.

Governor Mohammed wished the new cabinet members well in the discharge of their official duties, warning that anything short of positive progress will not be tolerated, urging them not to betray the trust and confidence reprised in them. 

Those sworn in are: Barr Ibrahim Kashim as SSG; Barr Dr Aminu Hassan Gamawa as CoS; Bashir Yau as Deputy Chief of Staff; Pharmacist Samaila Adamu Burga as PPS to the Governor while the 21 Commissioners were assigned different portfolios though some of them returned to their former Ministries.