Seven Permanent Secretaries Have Taken Oath of Office in Borno State

… Charged to work in accordance with the core values and attributes of the civil service.

By: Our Reporter

Borno State Governor H.E Professor Babagana Umara Zulum has today presided over the administering of allegiance and Oath of office to the newly appointed seven Permanent Secretaries in the state civil service.

The State Governor who was represented at the ceremony by the Deputy Governor H.E Umar Usman Kadafur took place at the Council chamber Government House in Maiduguri where he charged the newly appointees to be ready to take tough decisions in challenging times that require innovation and creativity.

The Governor noted that, at no point they should allow their personal concern override the interest of their office, stressing that they should also study and understand the overall policy objectives of this administration and internalise all the provisions of the procurement law and the public service rules for effective service delivery.

The Governor reminded them of the major policy thrust of this administration which centres around the full and effective implementation of ten pact agenda and execution of the 25 year development plan.

The Governor had while congratulating them said ” we have just witnessed yet another significant milestone in our relentless determination to resuscitate the administrative machinery of government by continually injecting more competent and experienced hands into the system for effective performance”.

In his welcome address, the Borno State Head of Service, Barrister Mallam Fannami mni said the seven appointed Permanent Secretaries are appointed from seven local government areas of the state based on existing vacancies as well as the exigent demand of the service.

Barrister Mallam Fannami said the seven Permanent Secretaries emerged out of 32 eligible candidates that sat for the examinations from the seven local governments areas and were subjected to meticulous screening that covers eleven broad areas of service delivery aspects.

The Seven Permanent Secretaries that were sworn-in are: Yakaka Ahmadu Ma’aji, Dr. Tijjani Ahmad, Modu Alhaji Mustapha, Alhaji Mustapha Garba, Basha Kachalla Talba, Dr. Shettima Ali and Muhammed Bukar El-sadiq.

In a vote of thanks, one of the newly sworn-in permanent secretaries Hajiya Yakaka Ahmadu thanked the state governor for finding them worthy and pledged to key into the policy thrust of the state government adding that they will conduct themselves in consonance with the tenets of public service.

The Occasion was attended by the SSG Hon. Bukar Tijjani, APC State Chairman, Alhaji Bello Ayuba, Chairman Civil Service Commission Dr Bulama Mali Gubio mni, Members of the Borno State Executive Council, Screening Committee, Permanent Secretaries, Special Advisers to the governor, deputy chief of staff, principal secretary among others.

Seven Permanent Secretaries Have Taken Oath of Office in Borno State

Suspected IPOB terrorists killed five soldiers in Abia

By: Our Reporter

Troops of OP UDO KA deployed at Obikabia Junction Checkpoint in Obingwa Local Government Areas adjourning Aba metropolis in Abia State, southeast Nigeria, were attacked and sadly killed by terrorists of IPOB and ESN.

A statement from EDWARD BUBA
Major General, Director of Defense Media Operations, said “the troops deployed to enforce peace in the area and protect the citizens were massedly attacked by the terrorists. The terrorists, in three tinted Prado Toyota SUVs and others from built-up areas surrounding the checkpoint, sprang a surprise attack on the checkpoint.

“The attack sadly took the lives of five personnel of the armed forces killed in action.

“The armed forces mourn the deaths of these troops, as each and every soldier lost in battle is a terrible loss.

“Meanwhile, investigations are ongoing concerning the attack.

“Overall, it must be reinterpreted that the lifeline of the terrorist is the people, and this situation is no exception. Winning the war without the support of the people is close to impossible. The IPOB capitalized on this to perpetrate attacks on the troops. The situation leaves more to be desired.

“Accordingly, it is absolutely imperative that the military retaliate against this dastardly act against troops. The military would be fierce in its response. We would bring overwhelming military pressure on the group to ensure their total defeat.”

Suspected IPOB terrorists killed five soldiers in Abia

Tinubu/Shettima Presidency : The Policies, The Bond, and Public Perception.

By: Inuwa Bwala

It is a universal trend in governance that new policies: however pragmatic or ambitious, meet initial misconceptions or resistance.
Some criticise because they do not understand and others out of sheer mischief. But for whatever reasons, resistance to the introduction of new policies cause the teething problems to a new government to often linger.
It takes consistent explanations and citizen re-orientation for policies to be fully imbibed by the citizens, but challenges arising from mischief are often sustained.
In some climes, it takes longer, period and in others a quicker time to overcome such teething challenges, by Government. Nigeria presents such an environment where a sophisticated picture of mischievous antagonism to government policies is a vogue.
This is why antagonisms beyond election times seem to be the initial dilemma of the Tinubu/Shettima administration.
There is no doubt that they have introduced many new policies than previous regimes within the same time span, but they are experiencing more obstacles in translating the policies into reality: no thanks to the seeming politicisation of issues surrounding the policies.
Given the degree of rot it inherited, coupled with the seeming forfeiture of public confidence by the last administration, one may say, one year is not enough to evaluate the performance of the government, given the difficult circumstances created by their own government.
Be that as it may, there is a lot of misinformation about government intentions, which tend to becloud explanations and distort public orientation.
The fundamental point people tend to miss is the fact that there is a gestation period for every new policy, which requires patience and tolerance for its benefits to manifest.
Depending upon the volume of explanations available to the citizens and the position from which they interpreted, the risks of criticism are higher, where political alignments differ.
It is perhaps in realizing the need for synergy in overcoming challenges to policies and in order to demystifiy old narratives, about the workability of new alliances, that Ahmed Tinubu and Kashim Shettima strengthened the bond, that saw them emerging as President and Vice President.
Keen observers of events could probably see through that bond, long before it became open,: tracing the very intimate relationship between the duo, in the challenging days of Governor Kashim Shettima in Borno, who was facing isolation as an opposition from the then Federal Government.
Observing the duo as they exchanged visits, seeking each other’s inputs, and developing political reachout programmes, it was clear at that point that the future held something deeper.
Some of Kashim Shettimas feats in Borno, were the trabspositions of Tinubu’s legacies in Lagos. It makes it safe for one to surmise that Kashim Shettima is Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s alter ego, given what he did in Borno by empowering allies and formulating drastic policies, and leaving behind enduring legacies
It is therefore easy finding Shettima, explain President Tinubus’ direction and the potential benefits, off hand, under this Presidency.
It may be apparent, that, the Vice President may be finding things difficult, in the face of emergent cabals, that have been trying to drive a wedge between him and his principal, or overshadow his growing popularity.
It is an open secret that fifth columnists and seeking psrtnershios outside, others may be working to create regional rivalry and yet others are plotting to strengthen the etnic renegade formula in power sharing, but the Vice president has proved to be indomitable.
Kashim Shettima has been endowed with exceptional oratory capabilities, such that, he often does not require prepared scripts to make public speeches or any form of rehearsal to make appearances.
Kashim Shettima is the perfect delegate of Mr. President and has given very impressive account of himself at public meets. He is a delight to watch and listen to. Such characters are very difficult to suppress.
It is oerhaps a matter of time, before President Bola Ahmed Tinubu understands the intrigues playing out against Shettima, and make adjustments as they enter the second stanza.
The clouds may be gathering, and the early warning signals noticeable. Alliances and re-alliance are being worked out, all in the bid to severe that bond, that binds Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and Kashim Shettima, and it will require the tenacity of their common purpose to defeat their foes.

Just speaking my mind.

Tinubu/Shettima Presidency : The Policies, The Bond, and Public Perception