Bauchi Governor, Senator Bala Abdukadir Mohammed, has sworn in eight newly appointed commissioners and assigned them to their respective portfolios.
They are Alhaji Usman Shehu – Ministry of Information and Communication, Dr. Iliyasu Aliyu Gital- Ministry of Agriculture and Dr. Bala Musa Lukshi- Ministry of Livestock Development Isah Babayo Tilde – Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
The rest are Professor Titus Ketkuka- Ministry of Works and Transport , Alhaji Adamu Babayo Gabarin – Ministry of Youth and Sports, Alhaji Abdullahi Muhammed Gwaram- Ministry of Lands and Survey as well as Dr. Lawan Rimin Zayam – Ministry of Education
The swearing in ceremony was held Wednesday at the Exco Chambers of the Government House, where the new appointees were also assigned portfolios immediately after the oath-taking.
The oaths of allegiance and that of office were administered to the commissioners by the Bauchi State Chief Judge, Justice Rabi Talatu Umar.
Speaking after presiding over the oath of office and allegiance Governor Mohammed emphasized that the commissioners’ performances would be closely monitored to ensure they fulfill their mandates effectively.
He reminded them that the positions they hold are a trust and that they will one day account for their stewardship.
While addressing the commissioners, Mohammed said that It has been the policy of his administration to occasionally reshuffle the State Cabinet to reinvigorate and reposition the machinery of the State Government for effective and efficient policy formulation and implementation, adding that It is against the backdrop of this policy thrust that five Commissioners were recently dropped and eight new ones appointed.
According to him, “Five out of the eight newly appointed Commissioners whose swearing in you have just witnessed would replace the dropped Commissioners. Two of the new Commissioners would replace the erstwhile Commissioner for Budget, Economic Planning & Multilateral Coordination, Alhaji Aminu Hammayo who has been appointed as Secretary to the State Government and the late Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu Jalam who was until his death the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. The remaining one new Commissioner would take charge of the newly created Ministry of Livestock Development” he said
The Governor congratulated the newly appointed Commissioners on their well-deserved appointments, saying that they were selected for the appointment based on their qualifications, track record of service in various field and fairness in representation in line with State character were taken into consideration.
He reminded the new appointees that the assignment given to them is a trust, stressing that they have a duty to God Almighty and obligation to your fellow human beings.
The governor urged the new Commissioners to work harmoniously with their Permanent Secretaries and other management staff of their Ministries towards effective and efficient implementation of policies and programmes of the government, pointing out that their performances will be closely monitored to make sure that you live up to the responsibilities of your various Ministries.
“I will not hesitate to sanction any one of you found wanting in the discharge of his duties. You should also be mindful of the fact that members of the public will be keenly watching your official and private conduct. You should therefore shun acts that are capable of bringing the Government into disrepute”
“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”
” It is my hope that they would justify the confidence reposed in them. Indeed, they should see their appointment as a challenge as well as an opportunity for them to prove their worth in the service of their State. I urge them to acquaint themselves with the policy thrust of the Government so as to be properly guided for efficient and effective discharge of their duties as Commissioners and members of the State Executive Council”
“I wish to note that the task before us is enormous. We have set before us a clear course of action by defining our priorities, drawing up relevant policies and programs and setting up plans to achieve our broader goals. To ensure success in our delivery, we periodically undertake an introspection through the review and self-assessment of our performances.
” I therefore wish to admonish every member of our team to work hard as the review exercise will become more frequent and members will personally be held responsible for any shortcomings in delivery within their MDAs. We will not hesitate to further re-jig the composition of our government where the need arises. Our ultimate goal is to meet the vision we have set towards the development of our dear state”
“Ours is a Government that has as its priority the socio-economic wellbeing of the people of the State. As Commissioners you should work hard towards the realization of this noble objective. You should make judicious use of government resources at you 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” he said
In a related development, the governor has approved the redeployment of four serving commissioners to new ministries.
They include Amina Muhammed Katagum From Ministry of Lands and Survey to Budget and Economic Planning, Ibrahim Gambo Galadima From Ministry of Works and Transport to the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs.
Others are Mohammed Salis Gamawa from the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development to Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Investment while Engr. Binni Abdulkadir moved from the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Investment to Religious Affairs and Societal Reorientation. END
