MOHAMMED YANGIDA revisits the issues in the sack of ten commissioners in the recent cabinet shake-up by Governor Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa state.
Sometime last week, Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa state sacked 10 members of the state executive council and deployed six others to various ministries.
Although there was no reason given by the governor regarding their sack, a government source told Blueprint that their sack was not unconnected with the power play ahead 2019. Since the sack of the commissioners stories have been making the rounds that the governor is playing out his political intrigues and fly the kite to signal what to expect when the politics of 2019 begins proper. Predictably, at every occasion in the state scenarios unfold and views are expressed over the sack of the council members.
Be it as it may, the governor in keeping with the dividend of democracy and inclusive governance has maintained and respected contributions from the various local government areas as each fairly being represented in the state.
When Governor Al-Makura appointed his 16 cabinet members in October, 2015, little did it occur to them that their appointment will come to an end by Febuary 6th 2017, except for the six members of the executive council who were retained.
These include ,Alhaji Tijjani Ahmed, formerly of Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs who is to oversee the affairs of the Ministry of Education, Alhaji Haruna Illiya Osegba, from the Ministry of Commerce and Industries to Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Dr.Daniel Iya, of Ministry of Health retained his position, Mr.Sonny Agassi, of Ministry of Land and Survey also retained his position, Barrister Gebrial Akaka retained in the Ministry of Environment, and Barrister Yusuf Shehu also retained to pilot the affairs of the Ministry of Justice.
While those that were sacked includeed Hajiya Ramatu Ajuji Abubakar, from Ministry of Education, Engr Idris Mohammed of the Ministry for Special Education, Dr.Othman Ibrahim, from Budget and Planning, Danladi Makeri ,from Ministry of Works and Transport, Mustapha Yahaya Idris ,from Ministry of Urban Development,
Others were Dr.Dominic Bako Adagazu ,from Ministry of Finance, Euniece Kigbu ,from Ministry for Women Affairs ,Tim Tiga ,from the Ministry of Information, Lawi from Ministry of Agriculture, and Galadima from the Ministry of Youths and Sports.
As earlier pointed out earlier the governor decided to reshuffle his cabinet ahead of 2019, general election as means of repositioning the state as well as meet his desire to work with technocrat and bureaucrat who can add values to his government and the overall development of the state.
Despite the governor’s desire to work with technocrats and bureaucrats he did not stop at dissolving the cabinet with immediate effect and submitted nine names to the state house of assembly for screening and confirmation as members of the new executive council.
And the Speaker of the House Alhaji Ibtahim Balarabe Abdullahi , immediately directed the Clerk of the House to communicate the commissioner nominees to immediately send their Curriculum Vitae and appeared for screening as scheduled.
While presenting the list to the state house of assembly Al-Makura requested the state Assembly to screen and confirm his nine commissioner nominees to enable him provided the much needed dividend of democracy to the people of the state.
Accordingly, it was upon this that governor Al-Makura in one of his addresses recently vows to make appointment into public office based on professional competence, whose technical input to development and government affairs can be.
According to him “exhibition of high professionalism and diligence of the entire public servants would complement the transformation agenda of the current administration in the state “he added.
“Henceforth my administration would continue to encourage the growth in the state public servants and discourage the issue of appointment through lobbying or godfatherism ,so as to build a robust future for the state , just as “ I am largely dependent on professionals and those that can add values in the state affairs through their dedication, commitment, and experience as such the selection would be based on bureaucrats and technocrats” Al-Makura added.
As he always, the governor charged them to do well while discharging their duties by justifying the confidence reposed on them in the best interest of the state.
The commissioner nominees are Professor Jonathan Yakubu from Akwanga Local Government Area, Hon .Mary Enwongulu from Nasarawa Eggon, Alhaji Mohammed Jameel Zakari ,from Awe , Bamaiyi Anangba from Kokona ,Tanko Zubairu from Doma Local Government Area of the state.
Others are Engr.Wada Yahaya from Keffi , Dr.Abdulkarim Kana from Kokona ,AyubavAyinaje from Toto ,and Hon. Abfulhamid Kwara from Wamba Local Government Area of the state.
While contacted Ahmed Tukur, the special assistant on media and publicity to Governor Al-Makura, said the reason behind the sudden reshuffle is that the governor has the constitutional right to nominate whomever he want as the member of the state executive council just as the same constitution gave him the right to replace at any given time .
“The outgone commissioners have done their best in serving the state and the governor has wished them well and assured them that at any point in time their services are needed he will not hesitate to contact them .The governor was only exercising his constitutional matter “ Tukur added.
