The Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has announced the scrapping of the office of the Chief of Staff and the removal of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Abdullahi Baffa Bichi, citing health reasons.
The shakeup, announced on Thursday by the Director-General of Media, Sanusi Dawakintofa, aims to optimize the cabinet’s performance and ensure better political and administrative alignment.
Among the key changes, Deputy Governor Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo has been reassigned from Commissioner for Local Government to Commissioner for Higher Education.
Cabinet reshuffle highlights
- Chief of Staff Office Scrapped: Shehu Wada Sagagi’s office has been eliminated as part of the administrative overhaul.
- SSG removed: Dr. Abdullahi Baffa Bichi was relieved of his position due to health challenges.
- Reassignments:
- Deputy Governor Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo: Moved to Higher Education.
- Mohammad Tajo Usman: Shifted from Science and Technology to Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
- Dr. Yusuf Ibrahim Kofar Mata: Transferred from Higher Education to Science, Technology, and Innovation.
- Amina Abdullahi: Moved to Women, Children, and Disability Affairs.
- Nasiru Sule Garo: Reassigned to Special Duties.
- Several others have also been moved to new roles, including Education, Transport, and Water Resources.
- Cabinet members retained:
Commissioners in key sectors such as Agriculture, Health, Justice, Works and Housing, Budget and Planning, and Religious Affairs were retained in their current positions. - Dropped commissioners:
Five cabinet members, including those from Finance, Culture and Tourism, Information and Internal Affairs, Special Duties, and Rural and Community Development, were removed. - Potential reassignments:
The Governor has directed the dropped officials, including the Chief of Staff, to report to his office for possible reassignment.
Rationale behind the reshuffle
Governor Yusuf emphasized that the cabinet reshuffle is necessary to enhance administrative performance and strengthen the political framework of his administration. The move reflects a pragmatic approach to addressing challenges and realigning priorities for improved governance.
The reshuffle has sparked discussions across Kano, with observers closely monitoring how these changes will impact the administration’s overall effectiveness and delivery of services.
