Bala Mohammed, the governor of Bauchi State, swore in eight new commissioners on Wednesday in an attempt to revitalize the administration’s apparatus.
Governor Mohammed’s administration has made it a practice to periodically rearrange the state cabinet in order to revitalize and realign the state government apparatus for the purpose of formulating and implementing policies in an efficient and effective manner.
“Two of the new commissioners would replace the erstwhile Commissioner for Budget, Economic Planning, Hon. Aminu Hammayo who has been appointed as Secretary to the State Government, and the late Aliyu Ahmed Jalam who was until his death, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs”.
The remaining commissioner would oversee the newly established Ministry for Livestock Development, the governor further stated.
“I would like to express my sincere appreciation and gratitude to the five commissioners that have been dropped from the cabinet for their immense contributions to the development of the state.
“They were not dropped because they were found wanting in their integrity or in their capacity, the only reason is that we are trying to put square pegs in square holes, but certainly we will still consider some of them worthy of making further contributions to the state, as I will appoint some of them special advisers,” Governor Mohammed said.
The socioeconomic well-being of the state’s citizens is a top concern for his government, he continued, and he gave the new commissioners a challenging assignment to help achieve this goal.
“You should make judicious use of government resources at your disposal and resist temptation to divert public funds to your personal use. As Commissioners and Chief Executives of your Ministries, you should make accountability and transparency your guiding principle in the discharge of your duties.
“Let me remind the new appointees that the assignment given to you is a trust. You have a duty to God Almighty and obligation to your fellow human beings. One day you will account for your stewardship, if not in this world, surely in the hereafter. You should not therefore be tempted to abuse the trust bestowed on you. You are to serve the people and not to be their masters,” Mohammed said.
The governor also reaffirmed his administration’s pledge to provide Bauchi State’s citizens with the benefits of democracy.
Dr. Bala Musa Lukshi, Ministry of Livestock Development; Iliyasu Aliyu Gital, Ministry of Agriculture; and Alhaji Usman Usman Shehu, Ministry of Information and Communication, are assigned to the new responsibilities.
The others are Dr. Mohammed Lawal Rimin Zayam, who was assigned to the Ministry of Education; Prof. Titus Saul Ketkukah, who was assigned to the Ministry of Works and Transport; Hon. Adamu Babayo Gabarin, who was assigned to the Ministry of Youth and Sports; Abdullahi Mohammed, who was assigned to the Ministry of Land and Survey; and Hon. Isa Babayo Tilde, who was assigned to the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
Mohammed Salis Gamawa from the Ministry of Youth was transferred to the position of Commissioner of Religious Affairs and Societal Reorientation, while Ibrahim Gambo Galadima from the Ministry of Works was transferred to the position of Internal Security and Home Affairs, and Amina Muhammed Katagum from the Ministry of Land and Survey was transferred to the position of Budget and Economic Planning.
In an attempt to revitalize administration and provide the best possible service delivery to the people of Bauchi State, Governor Mohammed dismissed five commissioners from his cabinet on January 7.