Bauchi Governor Extols Impressive Qualities of New SSG, PPS

From Paul Orude Bauchi

Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has described the newly sworn-in Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Aminu Hammayo as one of the best human capital of his administration.

In the same vein, he poured encomium on the Principal Private Secretary (PPS) Hashimu Yakubu who served as the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on General Services in his administration, as an asset to him and the people of the state.

On Friday, Hammayo and Yakubu were sworn-in as SSG and PPS respectively, at the Executive Chambers of the Government House, Bauchi.

Hammayo, hitherto Commissioner for Budget, Economic Planning and  Multilateral Relationsm was appointed by the governor to replace Kashim Ibrahim, who controversially resigned.

Speaking after the SSG and the PPS were sworn in, the governor congratulated them for the well-deserved appointments.

Mohammed thanked them for agreeing to work with him saying they have been part and parcel of the administration since electioneering.

He said Hammayo was a member of eminent persons appointed by him to come up with a blueprint.

He said working with Hammayo had been rewarding, adding that the new SSG was an asset and one of the best human capital resources of his administration.

The governor described the new SSG as simple, civil and an administrator imbued with the capacity to navigate difficult times.

“He is a shock absorber that has brought a lot of resourcefulness and resources to governance,” the governor said.

Mohammed observed that the office of the SSG was susceptible to change of leadership for the third time in his administration.

He urged the new SSG to look inward and block financial leakages in the system.

“Without the engine room being correct definitely we cannot go anyway,” he warned.

“The absence of the former SSG was necessitated by need for change and of course, Aminu (new SSG) is a square peg in a square hole in view of his antecedents as a finance man who delved into administration and rose to the pinnacle of civil service career after his banking career.

“Definitely we expect so much from him because there are lots of leakages that needs to be blocked”

Mohammed described the new PPS, who succeeded Bala Burga, now the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman in the state, as an experienced technocrat who had always been with him.

The governor said Yakubu, his childhood friend, had unofficially carried out the work of PPS even before his appointment by virtue of his experience and closeness with him.

The new PPS, who was district head of defunct Kumbala district, rose to the exalted position of permanent secretary was also notable for being a pillar of the Mohammed administration and as the speech writer of the governor.  

Responding, the SSG pledged ‘absolute’ loyalty to Governor Bala Mohammed.

Hammayo, who spoke on behalf of himself and the PPS, promised the governor that they would go the extra length in loyalty in the discharge of their constitutional duties.

He thanked the governor for the appointment saying it was yet another privilege to serve the people of the state.

“We have to work today as if there is no tomorrow,” the new SSG stated.

“We want to assure you your Excellency that we are going to be loyal, and not just going to be loyal but absolutely loyal”

The new SSG assured the governor that as appointees, they would do the best they could to ensure that the goals and targets set by the administration were achieved.

He prayed to God to guide the governor and members of his cabinet with wisdom to achieve the vision he has set for the state.