Dawakin-Tofa explains Governor Yusuf’s cabinet reshuffle

In a major political decision, Governor Alh. Abba Kabir Yusuf last week announced a reshuffle of the State Executive Council members to pave way for effective administrative management.

The cabinet shake up affected the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Abdullahi Baffa Bichi, who was dropped on health ground and Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alh. Shehu Wada Sagagi whose portfolio is now scrapped. The Governor also has reassigned some commissioners and retained few in their previous ministries to effectively discharge the administration’s policies and campaign promises.

Those who retained their positions are 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.

According to the statement by the Governor’s spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin-Tofa, Yusuf directed the reassignment of 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 left Higher Education for Science, Technology and Innovation ministry.

Others commissioners reassigned include Hon. Amina Abdullahi from Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation to Ministry for Women, Children and Disable; Hon. Nasiru Sule Garo, moved from Environment and Climate Change to Ministry for Special Duties.

Commissioner for Project Monitory and Evaluation, Hon. Ibrahim Namadi now moved to Ministry of Transport, while Hon. Umar Haruna Doguwa of Ministry of Education deployed to Ministry of Water Resources. The then Commissioner for Water Resources, Hon. Ali Haruna Makoda has been moved to Ministry of Education; Hon. Aisha Lawal Saji from Ministry of Women, Children and Disable to Tourism and Culture, while Hon. Muhammad Diggol left Transport ministry for Ministry of Project Monitoring and Evaluation.

Meanwhile, those relieved of their duties are Ibrahim Jibril Fagge of 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. The Governor, however, directed the Chief of Staff and the five commissioners that were dropped from the cabinet to report to the office of the Governor for possible reassignment.

Nevertheless, the Governor has directed all reassigned commissioners to ensure a smooth handover and assumption of duties by Tuesday, 17th December 2024 before close of business.

Speaking through his spokesperson, Mr. Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the Governor stated that the cabinet changes will take full effect during the next council meeting scheduled for Wednesday, December 18, 2024. He emphasised the need for the completion of all transition processes before then.

“All commissioners affected by the changes are directed to hand over their responsibilities between Monday, 16th and Tuesday, 17th December 2024,” the statement reads.
The Governor further urged members of the state executive council to redouble their efforts and uphold a strong spirit of teamwork, dedication, and commitment to supporting his administration in serving the good people of Kano State.

According to Sanusi Dawakin-Tofa, the decision of the Governor was meant to enable optimum performance that will drive more dividend of democracy to the good people of Kano state.

Recall that, Governor Yusuf had told the Commissioners that their appointment was based on six months probation subject to review base on performance to entrusted responsibility.

While administering oath of allegiance, Governor Yusuf declared that the appointments were based on merit, and emphasizd that evaluation mechanism would be initiated to measure their performance level.

“Let me urge you all to sustain the tempo of loyalty, dedication, commitment to duty and be honest in the discharge of your duties, be honest, accountable, and mindful of the confidence repose in us by the good people on us.

“I am reminding you that your appointment is on probation of six months period after which a monitoring and evaluation team under my headship will be monitoring the performances of the ministry’s and those who performed well will be appreciated and those who underperform will be pulled out”.

The Governor tasked the commissioners to work as one family for the people of Kano believing that they are the best team to salvage the state from the mismanagement by the immediate past administration and deliver the dividends of democracy in the nooks and crannies of the there state.