- Safiu Kehinde
Kano State governor, Abba Yusuf, has on Thursday scrapped the Chief of Staff position while sacking the Secretary to State Government (SSG) in cabinet shakeup.
Yusuf also relieved five commissioners while redeploying seven others.
This was contained in a statement issued by the governor’s spokesperson, Sanusi Dawakin-Tofa.
According to the statement, the Kano governor took the decision to enable optimum performance that will drive more dividend of democracy to the good people of Kano state.
Those affected by the major shakeup are the Chief of Staff, Alh. Shehu Wada Sagagi whose office is now scrapped, and Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Abdullahi Baffa Bichi dropped on health ground.
The five sacked members of the govenor’s cabinet include Ibrahim Jibril Fagge (Finance Ministry), Ladidi Ibrahim Garko (Culture and Tourism), Baba Halilu Dantiye (Information and Internal Affairs), Shehu Aliyu Yammedi (Special Duties), and Abbas Sani Abbas (Rural and Community Development).
On the other hand, the commissioners who retained their office include Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Haruna Isa Dederi, Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Danjuma Mahmoud, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran, Commissioner for Land and Physical Planning, Hon. Abduljabbar Mohammed Umar, Commissioner for Budget and Planning Hon Musa Suleiman Shannon and Commissioner for Works and Housing Engr. Marwan Ahmad.
Also retained are Commissioner for Solid and Mineral Resources, Sefiyanu Hamza, Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Shiekh Ahmad Tijani Auwal, Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Hon. Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso, Commissioner for Investment and Commerce, Adamu Aliyu Kibiya and that of Internal Security and Special Services, Major General Mohammad Inuwa Idris Rtd.
Meahwile, those reassigned are the Deputy Governor, Comrade Aminu Abdulssalam who is moved from Ministry of Local Government to Higher Education, Hon. Mohammad Tajo Usman moved from Science and Technology to Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and Dr. Yusuf Ibrahim Kofar Mata from Higher Education to Science, Technology and Innovation.
Others on reassignment list include Hon. Amina Abdullahi from Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation to Ministry for Women, Children and Disable, Hon. Nasiru Sule Garo, from Ministry of Environment and Climate Change to Ministry of Special Duties.
In the same vein, the Commissioner for Project Monitory and Evaluation, Hon. Ibrahim Namadi, was moved to Ministry of Transport, while Hon. Umar Haruna Doguwa of Ministry of Education now moved to Ministry of Water Resources.
Also on the reassigned list, are Hon. Ali Haruna Makoda moved from Water Resources to Ministry of Education, Hon. Aisha Lawal Saji from Ministry of Women, Children and Disable to Tourism and Culture, and Hon. Muhammad Diggol from Transport to Ministry of Project Monitoring and Evaluation.
Following the shakeup, Yusuf directed the Chief of Staff and the five commissioners that are dropped to report to the office of the Governor for possible reassignment.
However, the cabinet reshuffling might not be unconnected with the allege crisis between the governor of Kano and leader of the New Nigerian Peoples Party, former Governor Musa Rabiu Kwankwaso.