12 Governors Who Made Major Appointments Within 48hrs After Inauguration
Alongside that of the President, the inauguration of state governors took place on the 29th of May, 2023, in various states.
Out of the 15 newly-elected governors, 12 among them have shown readiness to offer good governance and service leadership.
Below are the Governors who hit the ground running within 48 after their inauguration, by appointing key government officials who will help actualize their visions for their respective states.
Alex Otti (Abia State)
The Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, approved the appointments of Prof. Kenneth Kalu as the Secretary to the State Government and Caleb Ajagba as his Chief of Staff.
The governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, in a statement on Tuesday, unveiled six other appointees, saying the appointments took immediate effect.
Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom)
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, on Tuesday, appointed a former commissioner of Environment in the state, Enobong Uwah, as the new secretary to the state government (SSG).
In a statement made by the Permanent Secretary, Government House, Nathaniel Adiakpan, also named Ekerete Udo the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor.
Anietie Usen, a multiple award-winning journalist, technocrat and author of the popular book – “Village Boy” was also appointed as Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Media and Publicity.
Other appointees are Otobong Edemidiong as chief protocol officer and Uduak Inam as economic adviser to the governor.
Hyacinth Iormem Alia (Benue State)
Benue State governor, Hyacinth Iormem Alia, immediately after assuming office, appointed Prof. Joseph Alakali as Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and Paul Biam as Chief of Staff (CoS).
The governor also announced three more appointments, naming Moses Agbogbo Ode has the Head of Service (HoS) Kula as his Chief Press Secretary (CPS) and Emmanuel Chenge as his Principal Private Secretary (PPS).
According to Kula, the appointments take immediate effect.
Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi State)
The Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru on Monday, appointed Dr. Monday Uzor as his Chief Press Secretary
Nwifuru also ordered the freezing of government accounts domiciled in various banks with effect from Tuesday.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Uzor, Nwifuru directed bank managers to ensure that no withdrawal will be made from government accounts until further notice.
Peter Mba (Enugu State)
Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State announced the appointment of Chidiebere Onyia as the new Secretary to the State Government (SSG).
Mr Mbah made the announcement in a statement he issued by himself on Tuesday.
“I have just appointed Prof. Chidiebere Onyia (as the) new Secretary to the State Government (SSG),” he said in the statement, which was posted on his verified Twitter handle.
Dikko Radda (Katsina State)
Katsina State governor, Dikko Radda, announced the appointment of Ahmed Dangiwa as the Secretary of the Government of the State and Jabiru Tsauri as his Chief of Staff.
Mr Radda made the announcement on Monday in a statement he personally signed.
The governor also announced Muhtar Saulawa as the Deputy Chief of Staff and Abdullahi Turaji as his Principal Private Secretary.
Other appointments approved by Governor Radda are Mallam Maiwada Danmallam Director General Media, Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed Chief Press Secretary, Malam Miqdad Isah as Senior Special Assistant (Digital Media) and Abubakar Badaru Jikamshi becomes the Senior Special Assistant ( Print and Electronic Media),” the statement read.
The statement said Bishir Maikano was appointed the Senior Special Assistant (Protocol), while Hassan Danhaire was named made Senior Special Assistant (Special Duties) all stationed at the deputy governor’s office. Ahmed Rabiu was named the Official Photographer to the governor.
The governor congratulated the new appointees and urged them to join hands with him in turning around fortunes of the State.
Umar Namadi (Jigawa State)
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On Wednesday, the new Governor of Jigawa State, Umar Namadi, announced the appointment of Bala Mamser as the Secretary to the State Government (SSG).
Mr Mamser was the immediate past commissioner of information, youth, sport, and culture.
The appointment indicated in a statement signed by the state’s head of the service, Hussaini Kila.
The governor appointed Mustapha Kiyawa as his chief of staff and Adamu Garun-Gabas as his principal private secretary.
Other appointees announced by the governor are Abdullahi Shehu as accountant-general, and Habib Ubale as executive secretary, Jigawa State Youth Empowerment/Employment Agency.
The governor announced the appointees a day after he assumed office as the 5th governor of the state.
Uba Sani (Kaduna State)
The Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani approved the appointment of Senior Government Officials expected to fill key positions in the administration of the State.
Mohammed Lawal Shehu,Chief Press Secretary to the Governor Kaduna State, in a statement, explained that the immediate past Secretary to the State Government, Malam Balarabe Abbas Lawal was retained in view of his vast experience in governance to assist in the smooth take-off of the administration.
The Governor also retained the services of other senior members of the Nasir El-Rufai Administration to provide the link between the two administrations: Muhammad Hafiz Bayero serves as Senior Advisor Counsellor to the Governor,
while Barrister James Atung Kanyip and Chris Umar was appointed Deputy Chiefs of Staff to the Governor. Dr. Shehu Usman Muhammad and Bulus Banquo Audu were appointed as Counsellors to the Governor.
The Governor has also approved the appointment of a new Chief of Staff in the person of Sani Liman.
Sani also approved the appointment of Habiba Anana Shekarau as the new Head of Service.
Abba Kabir Yusuf (Kano State)
The Kano state governor Abba Kabir Yusuf on Monday, approved the appointment of the former Kano state chairman of the People Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Shehu Wada Sagagi as his Chief of Staff (CoS).
Also, the governor appointed the chairman of the Transition Committee, Dr Abdullahi Baffa Bichi as Secretary to the State Government (SSG).
A statement issued by Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa said others appointed are “Farouq Kurawa (Principal Private Secretary), Hon. Abdullahi Ibrahim Rogo, (Chief Protocol) and Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa (Chief Press Secretary).
Tofa said the appointments take effect from Monday 29th May 2023.
Meanwhile, Yusuf has sacked the Executive Secretary of the State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board Muhammad Abba Danbatta.
Yusuf also approved the appointment of Alhaji Laminu Rabiu as the new ES, of the state pilgrims board.
Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau State)
Governor Caleb Mutfwang on Monday, announced the appointments of three principal officers in his administration.
The governor announced this via his Twitter handle after being sworn in as the sixth executive governor of Plateau.
According to the governor, his choice of appointees to handle critical sectors of his administration was based on competence.
Mr Mutfwang appointed Samuel Nanchang Jatau as the secretary to the state government (SSG), Philemon Dafi as the attorney general and commissioner for justice, and Moses Nwan as executive private secretary.
Ahmad Aliyu (Sokoto State)
Sokoto State, Alhaji Ahmad Aliyu, appointed Abubakar Bawa as Director of Press Affairs, Government House Sokoto.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Secretary, Transition Committee, Alhaji Ibrahim Dadi Adire on Tuesday.
The governor had on Monday, suspended all appointment made by the former governor Aminu Tambuwal.
Dauda Lawal (Zamfara State)
The Zamfara State Governor, Dr. Dauda Lawal Dare, on Monday, made two new appointments for the new administration in the State.
The new appointments are the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Abubakar Nakwada, and the Chief of Staff, Hon. Mukhtar Mohammed Lugga, currently the State Peoples Democratic, PDP, acting chairman.
The Governor, after the swearing-in, urged the two political appointees to be God-fearing while discharging their responsibilities and appealed to them to always obey the principles of democracy
