In what appears to be a major shake up of his cabinet, Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, has scrapped the Chief of Staff (CoS) portfolio, and removed the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Abdullahi Bichi.
The announcement was made during a press briefing by the Governor’s spokesman, Sanusi Bature Dawakin-Tofa, on Thursday.
Yusuf said the cabinet shake-up is part of his strategy to rejig his administration for “optimum performance” and deliver “more dividends of democracy” to the residents of the state.
Among those affected by the reshuffle are Chief of Staff Alhaji Shehu Wada Sagagi, whose position has been abolished, and Dr. Abdullahi Baffa Bichi, the Secretary to the State Government, who was removed on health grounds.
Those retaining their positions include Barrister Haruna Isa Dederi, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice; Dr. Danjuma Mahmoud, Commissioner for Agriculture; Dr. Abubakar Labaran, Commissioner for Health; Hon. Abduljabbar Mohammed Umar, Commissioner for Land and Physical Planning; Hon. Musa Suleiman Shannon, Commissioner for Budget and Planning; and Engr. Marwan Ahmad, Commissioner for Works and Housing.
Other commissioners who will remain in their roles are Sefiyanu Hamza (Solid and Mineral Resources), Sheikh Ahmad Tijani Auwal (Religious Affairs), Hon. Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso (Youth and Sports), Adamu Aliyu Kibiya (Investment and Commerce), and Major General Mohammad Inuwa Idris (Internal Security and Special Services, Rtd.).
Also, several officials have been reassigned to new portfolios. These include Comrade Aminu Abdulssalam, the Deputy Governor, who is now assigned to the Ministry of Higher Education, and Hon. Mohammad Tajo Usman, who shifts from Science and Technology to the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. Dr. Yusuf Ibrahim Kofar Mata has also been moved from Higher Education to Science, Technology, and Innovation.
Other reassigned officials include Hon. Amina Abdullahi, now heading the Ministry for Women, Children, and Disability; Hon. Nasiru Sule Garo, who moves to the Ministry of Special Duties; and Hon. Ibrahim Namadi, who is now the Commissioner for Transport, replacing Hon. Umar Haruna Doguwa, who is reassigned to the Ministry of Water Resources.
Also impacted are Hon. Ali Haruna Makoda, now the Commissioner for Education, after his transfer from Water Resources, and Hon. Aisha Lawal Saji, who will now lead the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, following her move from the Ministry of Women, Children, and Disability. Hon. Muhammad Diggol has been reassigned from the Ministry of Transport to that of Project Monitoring and Evaluation.
In addition to the reshuffle, Governor Yusuf has removed five cabinet members entirely: Ibrahim Jibril Fagge, Finance; 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 has directed the dismissed officials to report to his office for possible future reassignment.