Bauchi Gov Sacks Health Commissioner, appoints three new commissioners, security adviser
By Abbas Usman, Bauchi
Following the Supreme Court judgement that granted autonomy to Local Governments in Nigeria, Governor Bala Abdulkadir Muhammad of Bauchi State said no commissioner will be appointed to the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
Governor Bala Mohammed made this known Monday at the Council Chamber of the Government House, Bauchi where he announced the sacking of the Commissioner Ministry of Health, Dr Adamu Sambo as part of “rejigging of the machinery of governance for more efficiency and results.
The three newly sworn in commissioners are Zainab Muhammàd Baban Takko (Women Affairs and Child Development); Dr Sani Mohammed Dambam (Health) and Engr. Muhammàd Abdulkadir (Commerce and Industries) while Dr Ahmad Abdulrahman is Special Adviser on Security Matters.
He said “following the apex court ruling, the Ministry for Local Government is no longer relevant and will now be headed by the Permanent Secretary”.
He added that “We have to rejig the cabinet in order to achieve the set objectives of the administration. We need to bring in fresh blood, brains with fresh ideas of how to move the state ahead positively.”
“The former Commissioner of Health was not dropped because of any infractions, it was just part of reorganization of governance, Very soon, we will find a way to fix him in government where he will be most relevant and more active.” he said.
He advised the new commissioners to immediately settle down to business by ensuring that they study all the handover notes left in their respective ministries to be able to catch up with the speed the administration is going.
The Bauchi State Chief Judge, Justice Rabi Talatu Umar, represented by Justice Faruk Umar Sarki, administered the oath of office and oath of allegiance to the three new commissioners before the commencement of the State Executive Council meeting.
Hajiya Zainab Babantakko, who was deployed to.the Ministry for Women Affairs replaced Hajiya Hajara Jibrin Gidado, who was elected Executive Chairperson of Itas Gadau Local Government Area in the recent council polls.
Hajiya Zainab was the immediate past Caretaker Chairperson of Bauchi Local Government.
Dr Sani Muhammàd Dambam, the new health commissioner, is the immediate past Chairman of Bauchi State Agency for of HIV, Tuberculosis and malaria (BACATMA).
Engineer Muhammàd Abdulkadir, the new Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, replaced Mahmood Baba Maaji, who is now the elected Executive Chairman of Bauchi Local Government.
Also, a retired AIG, Dr. Ahmad AbdulRahman was swore in as the Chief Security Adviser
Speaking on behalf of the newly sworn in commissioners, the new Commissioner, Women Affairs, Hajiya Zainab Babantakko thanked Governor Bala Abdulkadir Muhammad for the confidence reposed in them and pledged to put in their best and work hard to move the state forward.
