Yobe gov reportedly submits blank commissioners list to beat deadline
A list commissioner nominees forwarded by Tone State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, to the state assembly on July 27 is said to be blank in order to beat deadline for the submission.
This indication came to the fore on Tuesday this week when another list from the governor was finally unveiled by the speaker, Hon. Buba Chiroma-Mashio, as a second list.
Those on the first list were never unveiled.
The development fuelled suspicions that the first batch was a blank list meant to beat the constitutionally required 60 days deadline, according to a report by Daily Trust.
Both the state government and leaders of the state House of Assembly said four names were on the first list.
A member of the state assembly confirmed to Daily Trust that indeed the letter earlier sent to them through the Secretary to the State Government contained no names.
But the speaker, Hon. Buba Chiroma-Mashio, in an interview with newsmen in Damaturu on Tuesday said there was nothing like a blank list to beat the deadline, adding that the Assembly received the first batch of the list on 27 July.
The final list released at Tuesday’s plenary contained 20 nominees; 18 men and 2 women drawn from all the local government areas of the state.
Those on the list are Hon. Mohammed Garba Gagiyo – Bade; Engr. Usman Ahmed – Bursari; Hon. Musa Mustapha – Damaturu; Ya Jalo Badama – Damaturu ; Prof. Bello Kawuwa – Fika; Alhaji Ibrahim Jajere – Fune; Ali Goniri – Gujba; Aji Yerima Bularafa – Gulani; Alhaji Mohammed Abatcha – Gulani; Dr. Mairo Amshi – Jakusko; Abdullahi Bego – Jakusko; Hon Sidi Yakubu Karasuwa – Karasuwa and Barma Shettima – Machina.
Others are Engr. Umar Wakili Duddaye – Nangere; Dr. Muhammad Sani Idriss – Nguru; Bar. Sale Samanja – Potiskum ; Yusuf Umar Potiskum – Potiskum; Arch. Ahmed Buba Abba Kyari – Tarmuwa; Dr. Mohammed Lawan Gana – Yusufari and Hon. Kaigama Umar – Yunusari
The development sparked discussions among politicians, citizens, and the media given the fact that the speaker at their emergency meeting on that day only announced the receipt of the letter from the governor without reading the content to members.
Mallam Mamman Muhammad, the Director General of Press and Media Affairs to Governor Buni, said the state government submitted the list of commissioner nominees to the Assembly for screening and confirmation on 27 July, 2023 to beat the 60-day constitutional deadline.
While admitting that there was a delay for the second batch list because new ministries would be created, he insisted that nothing was done outside of the constitution.
‘‘The state government wants to expand ministries which is why the second batch list was delayed. The state assembly was given a good time to screen the nominees before the second batch. So, I think the house will answer this question.
‘‘The first list was given to them within the timeframe for screening while the second batch came thereafter so they are the ones that you will ask why they did not start screening till they received the second batch,’’ he said.