The 24 newly sworn-in commissioners in Bauchi state have been charged to eschew corruptive tendencies and resist the temptation to abuse their offices by allowing their political interest to override their official duties.
The charge was given by the state governor, Sen Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir while addressing the commissioners shortly after the State Chief Judge, Justice Rabi Talatu Umar administered the oaths of allegiance and office to them on Monday.
The swearing-in ceremony was held at the new Banquet Hall of the Government House Bauchi where the new commissioners were also assigned portfolios in accordance with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
According to the governor, the commissioners were selected as a result of their “competence, track record of performance, integrity, patriotism, loyalty and commitment to the core values of the administration which are accountability, probity, transparency and a sense of responsibility.”
He told the commissioners that accountability and transparency should be their guiding principles as chief executives of their ministries, warning that he will not hesitate to sanction any person found wanting in the discharge of his or her duties.
According to him, “No commissioner is better or senior than the other. In my government, there is no prime minister, all commissioners are equal. As commissioners, you are the chief executives of your various ministries, and your permanent secretaries who are answerable to you are the accounting officers. Your schedules of duties have been clearly spelt out accordingly.
“You should bear in mind that commissioners and permanent secretaries should work towards the attainment of the goals of their ministries and by extension the goals of the state as a whole.
“There should be mutual understanding, corporation and synergy between the commissioners and the permanent secretaries and indeed all other principal officers in the various ministries.
“Let me remind the commissioners that the oath of allegiance and office that has been administrated on them are not a mere formality that they can take for granted, rather it is a covenant between them and God, the breach of which will attract divine penalty if not in this world, surely in the hereafter. They should have this in mind in the discharge of their official duties.
“I will like to draw the attention of the commissioners to the need for absolute loyalty to the government and our great party. You should know that you are stakeholders in the state and your local government areas which requires that you continuously collaborate with party leaders, local government Chairmen, Legislatures at the National and State level, traditional and religious leaders. This collaboration is very important to reduce mistrust and suspicion and to create synergy.”
“You should regularly visit your communities to establish trust and openness in the affairs of the government. Accessibility, consultation and teamwork are necessary for the success of this government.”
Those sworn in included: Maiwada Bello as Commissioner, Ministry of Natural Resources; Ibrahim Gambo for Works and Transport; Mahmoud Babamaji Abubakar for Commerce and Industry; Danlami Ahmed Kawule for Housing and Environment and Lydia Haruna Tsammani, Ministry of Higher Education.
Others include Ahmed Sarki Jalam Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs; Yakubu Ibrahim Hamza, Religious Affairs; Usman Santuraki for the Ministry of Information; Abdul Hassan for Culture and Tourism; Muhammad Sale for Ministry of Youths and Sports Development.
Also sworn in are Yakubu Adamu, Ministry of Finance and Economic Development; Usman Abdulkadir Moddibo for Power, Science and Technology; Hajara Jibrin Gidado, for Women Affairs and Child Development; Farouk Mustapha for Rural Development and Special Duties; Hajara Yakubu Wanka for Humanitarian Affairs while Aminu Hammayo maintains the Ministry of Budget and Multilateral Affairs.
Furthermore, Hassan El-Yakub SAN was posted to Ministry of Justice; Muhammad Hamisu Shira Corporative, Small and Medium Enterprises; Simon Madugu Agriculture, Abubakar Abdulhamid Bununu Security and Internal Affairs; Jamila Muhammad Dahiru Education, Dr. Adamu Umar Sambo Health, Abdulrazak Nuhu Zaki Water Resources and Amina Muhammad Katagum Ministry Land and Survey.
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