By Okeke Eunice
In a major cabinet shake-up, Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf has dismissed Abdullahi Bichi, the Secretary to the State Government, and Shehu Sagagi, his Chief of Staff.
Sanusi Bature, the governor’s spokesperson, made the announcement at a press briefing held at the Kano Government House.
Sanusi Bature revealed that the reshuffle affected five commissioners, including those overseeing Finance, Special Duties, Information and Internal Affairs, and Rural and Community Development.
In the statement, it was explained that Governor Abba Yusuf initiated the changes to enhance performance and ensure the delivery of greater democratic dividends to the people of Kano State.
“Those affected by the major shake-up are the Chief of Staff, Alh. Shehu Wada Sagagi, whose office is now scrapped, and Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Abdullahi Baffa Bichi, who was dropped on health grounds.
“Governor Yusuf removed some cabinet members and reassigned others to enhance administrative performance and political retooling.
“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.
“Those reassigned are the Deputy Governor, Comrade Aminu Abdulssalam, who is moved from Ministry of Local Government to Higher Education; Hon. Mohammad Tajo Usman, who is 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.
Among those reassigned are Hon. Amina Abdullahi, who moved from the Ministry of Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation to the Ministry for Women, Children, and Disabled Affairs, and Hon. Nasiru Sule Garo, who was transferred from the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change to the Ministry of Special Duties.
The statement revealed that Hon. Ibrahim Namadi, previously Commissioner for Project Monitoring and Evaluation, has been reassigned to the Ministry of Transport, while Hon. Umar Haruna Doguwa has moved from the Ministry of Education to the Ministry of Water Resources.
Others on the reassignment list include Hon. Ali Haruna Makoda, who shifted from the Ministry of Water Resources to the Ministry of Education; Hon. Aisha Lawal Saji, who moved from the Ministry of Women, Children, and Disabled Affairs to the Ministry of Tourism and Culture; and Hon. Muhammad Diggol, who transitioned from the Ministry of Transport to the Ministry of Project Monitoring and Evaluation.
Additionally, Governor Yusuf has removed five cabinet members, including Ibrahim Jibril Fagge from the Ministry of Finance, Ladidi Ibrahim Garko from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Baba Halilu Dantiye from the Ministry of Information and Internal Affairs, Shehu Aliyu Yammedi from the Ministry of Special Duties, and Abbas Sani Abbas from the Ministry of Rural and Community Development.
The Governor also instructed the Chief of Staff and the five dismissed commissioners to report to his office for potential reassignment.
The cabinet reshuffle comes just 19 months into the current administration.