By Aideloje Ojo
Minna
Anxiety has gripped Niger state cabinet members over an impending cabinet reshuffle in which six commissioners are expected to be dropped to inject new blood into the Council.
The affected commissioners, it was learnt, are to be officially informed at a cabinet meeting expected to hold today at the Government House, Minna.
Checks revealed that as a prelude to the cabinet reshuffle, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello has sacked 16 permanent secretaries and appointed new ones as replacement.
In a state-wide broadcast to mark Democracy Day, Bello announced the creation of three new ministries which he named as Culture and Tourism, Mining Ministry and the Ministry of Forestry and Animal Resources.
He stressed the need to overhaul the state civil service and regretted that the state public service had been intensely exposed to damaging partisanship and external influences that had compromised its integrity.
This, he said, had created negative perceptions which made relations with political leadership and public image difficult to manage.
“In keeping the civil service efficient and vibrant, we have directed that 16 permanent secretaries should proceed on retirement leave with full benefits, eight will be retained, while the two acting permanent secretaries are hereby confirmed.
In addition, I have also approved the appointment of 17 new permanent secretaries based on merit and with immediate effect,” he said.
He said in order to further harness the full potentials in the state, 250 graduates from the 25 local government areas would be recruited into the state civil service, adding that the state Civil Service Commission had been directed to begin the recruitment without delay.
