From: Segun Babatunde in Bauchi
Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed has reconstituted his cabinet by swearing in 21 Commissioners, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chief of Staff (CoS) and Principal Private Secretary (PPS) who will form the State Executive Council (SEC) with a stern warning on them to shun corruption and corrupt practices as his administration is focused on taking the state to higher heights before the end of its four year tenure.
Speaking immediately the Commissioners, SSG, CoS, DCoS and PPS were sworn at the new Conference Hall , New Governor’s Office, the Governor reminded them that they were either reappointed or appointed based on merit and their various contributions to the development of the state.
Mohammed further said that the sworn in appointees must live above board, bring in their wealth of knowledge and experience into play in order to accelerate the developmental efforts of the administration stressing that time is fast running and the wheels of progress must not slow down.
The Governor reminded them that they own their various constituencies of positive representation in government because according to him, “you are expected to serve as ambassadors of your people, let them know what we are doing for their well being”.
He further said that he took his time to reassemble the cabinet in order not make mistakes because according to him, “2023 is fast approaching, we need to consolidate our political grip so that we can easily get a second term to serve the people of the state”.
The Governor who stressed that winning election is all about carrying people along not much about projects execution, however 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.
He further said that he will work with the appointees for progress warning them to cultivate a smooth working relationship with the Legislative arm which though is led by the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
The Governor said that, “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”.
Mohammed while wishing the new cabinet members well in the discharge of their official duties, sounded a note of warning that anything short of positive progress will not be tolerated by him 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; Pham 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.
The oaths of office and allegiance were administered by the Bauchi State Chief Judge, Justice Rabi Talatu Umar.