Changing SSGs Not Good For Me But, Necessary… – Gov Mohammed

…Swears in Hammayo as new SSG, Hashimu – PPS 

Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed has said that having three different people as Secretary to the State Government (SSG), does not speak well of him but, became necessary in order to get the right person.

Governor Mohammed, who stated this on Friday, December 27, 2024, while swearing-in Aminu Hammayo as the new Secretary to the State Government (SSG), and Hashimu Yakubu as the Principal Private Secretary (PPS) to the Governor, noted that his administration has passed through a lot of problems and challenges.

He explained that some of the challenges were the reason for the change of appointees for the office, stressing that it was not his wish for the office to be susceptible to changes.

In the words of Mohammed; “He is the third person to occupy that office which is a sensitive one. But, certainly, we have to be flexible, we have to really look inwards and block gaps because there are a lot of gaps in the system, without the engine room being correct, definitely we cannot go anywhere.

“The exit of the former SSG was necessitated by the need for a positive change and of course, Aminu Hammayo is the square peg in a square hole. He is a financial expert and rose to the top of his civil service career after a successful banking career.

“Definitely, we expect so much from him, there are a lot of leakages, a lot of misdemeanours that must be stopped. I wish to thank the new SSG for accepting to work with us and particularly with me.

“Accepting such cannot be taken for granted. I know, as he said, he knows me very well. I have worked with him closely and he is not new in government as a person.

“He is well acquainted with the policies and programmes of government. At the time we were going for electioneering, he was a member of the Eminent Persons that was asked to come up with a blueprint which is now ‘My Bauchi Project’.

“I found him to be a good resource person, but certainly, sometimes, because of the political calculation, it was not his time to be the SSG. I have always said that he is the best of the brains we have in the cabinet.

“I have said it and even our colleagues agreed. He is a very simple and civil person and has the capability to navigate the difficult times. It is not in doubt, he has shock absorbers and a lot of resourcefulness in him and so certainly, this is the time to shoulder power and responsibilities, a very big one because of the need to deliver and get the governance working,” he said.

To the new PPS, Hashimu Yakubu, the Governor Mohammed said; “We have been together right from our young ages. We were classmates in the primary school, we played together and we are from the same area. So, we know each other very well.

“I have confidence that he will do very well considering his success as a top civil servant in the State while I was at the Federal Civil Service. He has done so well. He too is a square peg in a square hole. The office of the PPS needs a close confidant and he has acted it very well,” he said.

Governor Mohammed expressed optimism that with the new appointments, his administration was once more ready to bounce back and give impactful governance to the State.

Responding on behalf of the new appointees, the SSG, Aminu Hammayo assured that the two of them, though not new to the administration, will bring in new things expected of their offices in order to make governance easier and impactful.

Hammayo thanked the Governor for finding them worthy of the appointments from among the many qualified persons across the state and assured that they will not betray the trust reposed in them.