el-Rufai Shuffles Cabinet

Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna state has effected a major reshuffle of his cabinet.

The governor while announcing the change during the State Executive Council meeting also appointed new permanent secretaries.

In the cabinet shakeup, Mallam Muhammad Bashir Sai’du replaced Hadiza Bala Usman, who until her appointment as the Managing Director of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA).

Bashir Saidu was until his appointment, was the Honourable Commissioner for Local Government affairs.

In a statement issued by Samuel Aruwan, Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, the Governor’s spokesman said the rejig of senior personnel includes the swapping of Commissioners, the nomination of new Commissioners, the appointment of new Permanent Secretaries and some retirements.

According to Aruwan, the Commissioners who swapped portfolios are: Amina Dyeris-Sijuwade who moved from the Ministry of Justice to the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources;
Dr. Maigari Daniel Manzo moves from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism;
Shehu Balarabe who formerly in charge of the Ministry of Environment is now Commissioner, Stakeholder Relations;
Rabi Abdulsalam, former Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, becomes Special Adviser on Social Development;
Dr. Shehu Usman Adamu, former Commissioner of Commerce, Industry and Tourism returns to the academia.

Aruwan, in the statement disclosed that the governor had also nominated four commissioners for confirmation by the Kaduna House of Assembly.

The new nominees are: Umma Hikima, Clerk of the House of Assembly, as Commissioner of Justice/Attorney-General;
Professor Kabiru Mato, currently Special Adviser, Intergovernmental Relations, as Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry; Hafsat Baba as Commissioner of Women Affairs and Social Development while Jafaru Sani, Permanent Secretary Cabinet Affairs, as Commissioner for Local Government.

Three Special Advisers have been reassigned. In the reassigned list, Uba Sani is redesignated as Special Adviser, Political Matters and Intergovernmental Relations. Chris Umar, Deputy Chief of Staff, is to become Solicitor-General, while Murtala Dabo, Special Adviser, Economic Matters, was appointed Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport.

The new Permanent Secretaries are: Mohammed Mahmoud Shuaibu – Ministry of Health and Human Services; Chris Umar – Ministry of Justice; Rabilu Shehu Ibrahim – Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources.

Others are Joseph Steven – Ministry of Local Government; Habiba Anana Shekarau – General Services, Office of the SSG; Lawrence Shemang – Ministry of Water Resources; Murtala Dabo – Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport; Abdullahi Sani – Cabinet Affairs and Special Services, Office of the SSG.

The Five Permanent Secretaries redeployed are as follows: Hauwa Umar – Ministry of Women and Social Development; Ibrahim Shehu Jere -Bureau of Establishments, Management and Training.

Others are brahim Sambo, Ministry of Rural and Community Development; Nuhu Ishaku Buzun – Public Service Office, Office of the Head of Service; Aishatu K. Mohammed – Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism.

The Permanent Secretaries retired are Esther C. Tsuwang; Lukman Musa Soba: Victoria Galadima; Mamman Garba Senior and Mary Musa Sawok.

Governor Nasir Ahmed el-Rufai thanked the outgoing officers for their contributions to the development of the state and wished them well in their future endeavours.

Meanwhile, political watchers see this shakeup as a way of reconciling with the APC Skids group which had thitherto, accused the governor of running a “one man show” to the detriment of other stakeholders of the party.

Speaking to NAIJNEWSALERT, a former Secretary of the defunct ACN says the Governor's move is not unconnected to the fact that it has become obvious that he needs all hands on deck to continue to lead in the state.