Abba Yusuf scraps chief of staff portfolio, drops SSG in cabinet reshuffle

Abba Yusuf, governor of Kano, has scrapped the office of the chief of staff (CoS) in a major cabinet reshuffle carried out on Thursday.

In a statement issued by Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, spokesperson to the governor, Yusuf also dropped Abdullahi Baffa Bichi, secretary to the state government (SSG), “on health grounds.”

Yusuf said the cabinet shake-up is part of his strategy to realign his administration for “optimum performance” and deliver “more dividends of democracy” to the residents of the state.

“Those affected by the major shakeup 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,” the statement reads.

The spokesperson said the governor 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,” the statement continues.

“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 was moved from the Ministry of Local Government to Higher Education; Hon. Mohammad Tajo Usman, who was moved from Science and Technology to the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs; and Dr. Yusuf Ibrahim Kofar Mata, who was moved from Higher Education to Science, Technology, and Innovation.

“Others on the reassignment list include Hon. Amina Abdullahi, from Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation to Ministry for Women, Children, and Disabled; Hon. Nasiru Sule Garo, from Ministry of Environment and Climate Change to Ministry of Special Duties.

“Commissioner for Project Monitoring and Evaluation Hon. Ibrahim Namadi now moved to the Ministry of Transport, while Hon. Umar Haruna Doguwa of the Ministry of Education now moved to the Ministry of Water Resources.

“On the reassigned list, Hon. Ali Haruna Makoda moved from Water Resources to the Ministry of Education, Hon. Aisha Lawal Saji from the Ministry of Women, Children, and Disabled to Tourism and Culture, and Hon. Muhammad Diggol from Transport to the Ministry of Project Monitoring and Evaluation.”

Yusuf also dropped five members of his cabinet, including Ibrahim Jibril Fagge, commissioner for finance; Ladidi Garko, commissioner for culture and tourism; Baba Dantiye, commissioner for information and internal affairs; Aliyu Yammedi, commissioner for special duties; and Abbas Sani, commissioner for rural and community development.

He also directed the chief of staff and the five commissioners, who are dropped to report to the office of the governor for possible reassignment.