Bala Muhammad

By Sulaiman Maijama’a

This is a complex piece to write. How can anyone following my writings from the start of the Bala Mohammed’s led-administration not submit that I have been a hailer of this government? In 2020, to celebrate Gov. Bala’s first anniversary in office, I dedicated a fifteen-paragraph piece titled, “Gov. Bala @365 day: Journey so far”, in which I dwelled much on the governor’s giant strides, despite inheriting a failed government.

In his second year, it was a thirty-five-paragraph piece I wrote titled, “Two years under review: Bauchi State wears a new face”. These are apart from the weekly piece I used to write, which, if aggregated, would produce a voluminous book—all in an attempt to unveil the achievements and areas of strength of this government. 

This year as the governor marks his three years in office, it should be a time for sober reflection and critical thinking on the underperformed areas, or to put it more appropriately, areas more need to be done.

I feel I will not be fair to the governor if I don’t help him embark on self-assessment and self-criticism to increase his speed.

“Verily, political power is a vicegerency from Allah and a stewardship from God’s Apostle”, says Imam Muhammad Ibn Abdulkarim (as quoted in “Principles of Leadership”). Caliph Muhammad Bello is quoted in “Usul al-Siyasa” to have said, “be informed, my brother, that one of the most serious misfortunes that may befall a servant of Allah is to be a leader for the consequences of having to render a full account of the office.” On this note, leaders at all levels need to be reminded of the responsibilities they are saddled with.

There is no iota of doubt that, under the leadership of Senator Bala Muhammad, Bauchi State has become the Ameerah among its sisters in Nigeria in terms of infrastructural development. Bala Mohammed has actualised a gleaming new city. Suppose one is to aggregate the number of infrastructural projects so far executed in the state and divide them by the number of days within three years (1095 days). In that case, they will discover that no single day passed on without a project since Bala Mohammed assumed responsibility as the Executive Governor of Bauchi State.

However, beyond physical projects, have other sectors not been forgotten? Has education received the priority it is worth?  Someone will say that His Excellency has built new model schools and upgraded and renovated many. Yes, sure, I cited them many times as achievements. But beyond the surface, what about the teachers’ welfare, salaries, and allowances? To the best of my knowledge, since His Excellency came in, no single teacher in Bauchi State has been promoted. More importantly, we do not have a single strategic policy for improving the standard of education. These can defeat the aim of the polished model schools.

Let me remind His Excellency that during the previous administration of Muhammad Abdullahi Abubakar, he used to have a Special Adviser on Students’ Affairs, the position Governor Bala is yet to appoint, despite its importance. It seems ironic that governor Bala has SA for unmarried women but does not have one for students. Maybe the absence of this position is the reason for the tribulation befalling the indigene students of Bauchi State because they do not have anyone, appointed apart from a commissioner, to stand for them and to speak their voices.

Governor Bala is passionate about quality education because appointing Dr Aliyu Tilde as Commissioner for Education indicates that. But I don’t know the wisdom behind the termination of the sponsorship of 200 students of Malikiyya College of Health whose sponsorship was offered by the previous administration. Some of them had to give up schooling for a lack of financial capacity.

In the same vein, international scholarship, which is obtainable in sister stateslike Kano (where super-intelligent students are sponsored to study abroad), has been terminated. The local scholarship was paid only once and partially disbursed to only a few students whose institutions are in Bauchi State. Similarly, I don’t know if His Excellency is aware that the medical bond given to medical students as stipends by the previous administration has been disrupted, despite the challenges of the health sector. As the saying goes, “Health is wealth” and “education is the backbone of every development”. These students are an asset to our society. Thus, however much is invested in them will eventually payback. His Excellency needs to ponder on this.

On the issue of salaries, there still exists a problem. Not only that, people worry why despite death, retirement and a record of no employment, there has been an exponential rise in the Bauchi State wage bill from N4.5 billion to N7billion?  I’m not unaware of the fact that to address the challenges on the issue, the governor, on Thursday, September 10th, 2020, hosted a Media Parley with civil servants, labour leaders, government officials, elder statesmen, stakeholders and the media where massive corruption in the system was exposed. But recommendations were made by the financial consulting firm, DYNATECH Solutions Limited, contracted by the state government, but nothing seems to be improving. Some civil servants still spend months without a salary. They are suffocating.

Some people tell the governor that no government is without fault; every government comes with its shortcoming. Frankly, in Bauchi State, it comes with any flaws but not issues of salaries because Bauchi is a civil servants state. We like His Excellency, but we fear his opponents will use this to their advantage and campaign against him.

On the other hand, business people in the state have also been registering their discontent. His Excellency may have forgotten that during his campaign at Central Market, Bauchi, he promised that, if elected, he would inject into the annual budget,  Five Hundred Million Naira (500 000 000) earmarked as a loan to business people in the state. I believe this will be a good initiative and will help improve business. But, alas, three years have gone, and it is yet to be actualised. 

Similarly, His Excellency should begin to see to the welfare of his people, especially politicians who had made sacrifices to ensure that he comes on board. Honestly, many of them are not better than those in opposition party, despite their contributions and closeness to this government. These people may not summon the courage to tell the governor, but they open up when you speak to them off the record. Therefore, you cannot accuse them of anticipating a payoff from the government they brought in. Let me borrow Mahmud Jega’s words: to accuse a politician of expecting something in return from the government they supported and brought in is like accusing a person who attends prayers of expecting to be rewarded in the hereafter.

There are many ways these people can be helped. Why not learn from Jigawa State by giving them small-small contracts? Say, Mr. “A” bring the furniture to SSG’s office, give him N500 000;  Mr. “B” provide fuel for official cars in the governor’s office, 1 000 000; Mr. “C” bring chemicals for washing toilets in the government house;  produce chairs in primary schools;  build bathroom among others. Don’t give them a contract above N5 Million. They will still appreciate and be contented. With this, money will be circulating among people, thereby increasing the welfare of all and sundry. Being a staunch supporter of this government, I don’t want to believe that the contract is for “family and friends”, a slogan this administration is taunted with. 

Finally, I commiserate with the governor on his defeat in the recent PDP Presidential Primary Election. Keep the dream alive; the future holds a lot. We still need him as the executive governor of our dear state. One year is enough for him to remedy the observations mentioned above, which I raised out of concern.

My best wishes.

Maijama’a, Faculty of Communication, Bayero University, Kano. He can be reached via sulaimanmaija@gmail.com.

By Umar Sani Yakubu

It has been over a week since the arrest and eventual detention of a students’ leader and critic, Comrade Aminu Harsanu Guyaba, after being presented before the court of law. He was charged at the court for criticising the Executive Governor of Bauchi State, His Excellency Sen. Bala Muhammad Abdulkadir.

However, since then, several appeals and, in some instances, protests were conducted virtually (on media platforms) and physically calling on the state government and authorities for his release. This was done by students and his comrades claiming that there were many government critics all over the media doing more than what Guyaba did, and no one cared to stop or question their activities.

To some, the arrest of Guyana is nothing but a show of lack of resistance to criticism on the part of His Excellency as against his being an experienced and standstill politician that has been going around the country presenting himself to be. Thus, whatever people may have or want to conclude in the future, yesterday, 24 May 2022, Aminu Harsanu Guyaba celebrated one of his best days in detention. This is a day that brought his family the joy of their lives. We would have celebrated his birthday in front of a designated cake round with flowers and balloons among his family members, friends and other compatriots of a feather.

Unfortunately, only God knows what a situation he is passing through wherever he is. Who knows if he can even remember what this day is to him as against the usual remainder by Media platforms, banks and loved ones? What a pity?

Emphatically, as we did days ago, we want to remind His Excellency that Aminu Harsanu Guyaba is his child who was there through thick and thin to see that his government was brought to power. Furthermore, he has played a vital role in campaigning and securing votes for him. Therefore, we believe that Guyaba deserves better treatment from His Excellency no matter the grievance. Hence, Aminu is not more than a child that Kauran Bauchi could order to kneel and discipline.

We believe our outcry will not be like that of a fowl because many people from afar have started laughing at our government and us.

Sani writes from Bauchi and can be reached at saniumaryakubu@gmail.com.

By Zayyad I. Muhammad

The 2023 presidential elections will present to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) a golden opportunity to wrestle power from the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC). However, the greatest challenge facing the PDP is how to utilize this opportunity seamlessly by presenting a candidate that can secure for the party sufficient votes throughout the country.  

Today, all indices indicate that the APC’s presidential candidate may come from the southwest. Since 2015, APC’s trump cards have been the north and the southwest. However, the north may be APC’s biggest dilemma in 2023- the party has to appease the north while striking a balance on Nigeria’s complexities- this is where the PDP can take advantage if it plays its own cards very well.

Former Senate President Bukola Saraki, Governor Aminu Tambuwal, and Governor Bala Mohammed, all presidential aspirants on the PDP platform, have kick-started a move for the PDP to present a consensus candidate for the 2023 presidential elections. Saraki said the reason they were pushing for a consensus candidate was to reduce the likely rancour in the process of choosing the party’s flag bearer. Apart from having a rancour-free process, a consensus candidate will give the PDP an opportunity to pull resources together for a common goal. Furthermore, the party will have ample time to campaign for the general elections, as it has eliminated the long and tedious campaign for the primaries.

The big question is, who is PDP’s ideal consensus candidate among all the aspirants? The person should be someone who is well-known, have a network and connection, and is sellable across the country.

As a matter of real politics, the PDP may consider a one bloc vote. That is the Buhari cult-like followers, who, as of now, have undecided votes. The PDP can win the vote of that bloc vote and combine it with its own traditional votes by presenting someone different from Buhari but acceptable to Buhari’s cult-like followers. In addition, a consensus candidate should be someone who knows the Nigerian political terrain –and is acceptable to the common people- someone who Nigerians see as capable of tackling the current problems in the country.

If the PDP agrees to go for a consensus candidate- the party should do this based on certain logic. Firstly, the PDP should analyze the North and Southwest- two parts of the country with the highest number of voters- to define which of them will give the party some cutting-edge advantage. The party should then present a candidate that can bring the votes from that region.

Secondly, as the APC is looking southwest, the PDP should analyze the entire south and do its arithmetic with an open heart on just how to win the election.

Thirdly, PDP’s ideal consensus candidate should be chosen relative to the APC’s likely presidential candidate. It should be someone from the PDP ranks who has the clout, the political structure, the war chest, and the human resources to face any candidate from the APC.

An open discussion among the PDP presidential aspirants can produce good results for the consensus candidate. Though some of the aspirants will fizzle out from the race if the party does not use a zoning formula because their aspirations are based on permutations that the ticket is zoned to a particular section of the country.

Consensus is good for an opposition political party with an opportunity to get power. But some observers are of the view that a primary election will eliminate any hassle for the good candidate- as he may be tied down with many demands from other aspirants and interests.

If the call for a PDP consensus presidential candidate by Bukola Saraki, Governor Tambuwal, and Governor Bala is without any ulterior motive, it will be a welcome and excellent idea for the PDP. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar said, all the presidential aspirants don’t have issues with each other, once they sit down in a room, they will select the best candidate among themselves. Most political observers said Atiku made the statement because he is fully aware that, as of today, all the odds are in his favour – either consensus or primary election.

 Zayyad I. Muhammad writes Abuja via zaymohd@yahoo.com.

By Mallam Musbahu Magayaki

It’s no longer news that the uncontrollable fire outbreak on Monday, March 21, 2022, in Azare central motor park consumed millions of Naira properties, and others were left casualties.

However, if you can vividly remember, on Friday, April 02, 2021, Katagum Local Government Area’s firefighting truck had a tragedy on its way to an emergency salvage. The occupants of the zone have been lamenting, on top of their voices, over the provision of an out-of-order firefighting truck. Sadly, their tears have not yet been wiped out by the governor.

Since our firefighting truck had an accident that resulted in its damage, the executive Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir, has been playing possum with incessant fire outbreaks.

Since the firefighting system was damaged nearly a year ago, many lives, particularly those of children and women, have been lost due to uncontrolled violent fire outbreaks on properties worth millions of naira.

The people of Katagum LGA and the entire constituents of Bauchi North are completely taken aback by the enigmatic silence of the government. They voted for the governor, expecting him to keep his mind on serving them from the bottom of his heart, regardless of region, tribe, or ethnicity.

We expect our governor to be that good listener leader. But, Governor Bala’s mysterious silence and the way he turns a blind ear to the constant fire outbreaks consuming the lives of innocent people of our LGA signal as if he is not an empathetic leader.

In conclusion, we, the people of Katagum LGA and the entire constituents of Bauchi North, are begging Allah (SWT), weeping and pleading with Him to make our governor empathise with us and wipe off our tears by providing a new firefighting truck for us, amin.

Mallam Musbahu Magayaki wrote from Sabon Fegi, Azare, Bauchi State. He can be reached via musbahumuhammad258@gmail.com

By Y. Z. Yaú

In 2018, the Jamaare Local Government Area of Bauchi State suffered a devastating flood that destroyed farms and houses and the central market. There was a Government in Bauchi State, but it did not respond to the crisis. Those who died due to the flood ended up as mere flood statistics. The descendants of Dilara took it calmly and in their strides.  They consulted among themselves and prayed to God to answer their prayers. In his infinite mercies, God answered and wiped their tears: the federal government through the Ecological Fund responded with an intervention to mitigate the effect of the flood.

In a three-part initiative, the Ecological Fund financed a new drainage network in the town and promised to rebuild the market destroyed by the flood. The third aspect was the dredging of the river so that the flood could be reduced if not altogether eliminated. The state government was to contribute as counter funding. But, unfortunately, it did not, and the flood came back with more vengeance during the last raining season, and for the first time in over 50 years, the flood got into town, occupied and destroyed many houses. Several people, mainly farmers and their children, died while crops were damaged in the waves. The loss to the community was shuttering. Again, not a whimper of sympathy from the state government. 

Over five years ago, as part of the ecological intervention, the Federal Government decided to upgrade the power sub-station, which serves more than four local governments, to improve the electricity supply in the area. A significant new sub-station was to be built on the understanding that the State Government would do the civil works while the Federal Government does the engineering component. The Federal Government delivered its part, and to date, the State Government has not delivered its component, so the project remains uncompleted. 

What does the frequent flood tell? While flood in itself is destructive, it reveals that if the water can be controlled, agricultural production can be improved to raise the national food production capacity. After all, already along with the Hadejia wing of the Hadejia-Jamaare Rivers basin, this area is perhaps the largest rice production belt of the country. Stabilization of the flood plain of the Jama’are river is, therefore, a project not meant for the benefit of the Jamaare people only. It is to improve national food security and farming resilience in the country. It is thus in the national interest. 

The flood plain of the Jama’are river is a fertile agricultural area and a ready-made natural laboratory for agricultural research that will improve farming systems and practices across the country. This consideration led the Faculty of Agriculture of the Bauchi State University in Jama’are to leverage this natural laboratory for research, experimentation and teaching. In addition, Jama’are people will benefit from agricultural extension services, agricultural advice from experts, improved skills and knowledge for the farmers, and uptake of research outcomes to address agricultural, livestock, and horticultural issues.

It will also benefit from the usual town-gown interaction that a university made possible. But above all, however, the state and the country stand to gain in enhanced agricultural production, livestock production and development of horticulture. The foresight of the Committee that searched and selected the site of the Faculty of Agriculture must be commended for their deep sense of patriotism and adherence to professional ethics. 

The Faculty is already on the ground with hundreds of students and over 100 academic and non-academic staff engaged in academic activities in the college. Academic activities have stabilized, and a sense of synergy between the campus and the host community has taken shape. 

Suddenly, there are rumours making rounds that the state government is planning to relocate the Faculty to another place for the Federal College of Education takeoff that the federal government recently decided to establish in the town. This move to relocate the Faculty that was sited based on clear reasons of functionality and leverage not only smacks of the politics of blockage but also totally lacking in appreciation of the considerations for the setting up of both the Faculty of Agriculture and the Federal College of Education in Jamaare. It certainly does not show concern for the deep patriotic thinking of sitting the Faculty. But this apart, the argument of justice and fairness has led to the establishment of the Federal College of Education. 

Jama’are is one of the oldest local governments in the state, established in the country’s first wave of local government creation. Jamaáre Emirate is a foundational emirate, resulting from the Dan Fodio Jihad and not a recent political design of some politicians. Of the four emirates in the state, until 2014, it was the only one lacking in any institution of higher learning. Even when the Faculty of Agriculture was established, the Emirate was nowhere near the others in terms of the number of higher institutions. It was to promote equitable educational development and the spreading of educational opportunities across the state that reinforced the rationale for selecting the site of the Faculty of Agriculture and the establishment of the Federal College of Education in Jamaare. 

It is difficult for the people of Jamaáre not to read the purported attempt to remove the Faculty as one more instance of deliberate discrimination against people known for their peaceful disposition. For all the deprivations, they have never taken to a protest. Not that they value their rights nor that they cannot fight for their right. They believe that what you do not get in peace will not necessarily come in violence. They live in the humble Fulbe spirit of not giving to showing pains or pleasure. Therefore, when last Monday they met from all corners of the Emirate at the Jamaare central mosque and led by the leadership of the scions of the Dilara dynasty, the community has taken this attempt to disinherit them calmly and resorted to prayers, in the hope that as usual, Allah will ensure that justice is done. As a peace-loving community, we take solace in our patience and trust our density. 

It is still not late for the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed (Kauran Bauchi), to dispel these rumours and assure the people of Jamaáre, and indeed the whole country (which stands to lose from this move) that what is theirs shall remain theirs. They will embrace him with brotherly love and in that spirit. We hope that Kaura hears our humble request for his heart to take flight into the hearts of Jamaáre people who would warmly embrace him in eternal gratitude for acting as a true leader who treats all parts of his constituency equally. We are waiting and watching.

Ya’u is the executive director of the Center for Information Technology and Development.

By Muhammad Sabiu

The Bauchi State Police Command has confirmed an incident that led to the killing of one person and injuring of another by some unidentified gunmen on Saturday in Burshin Fulani, a community on the outskirts of Bauchi metropolis.

Confirming the incident, a police spokesperson in Bauchi, Ahmed Wakil, told journalists that the deceased was a senior staff at the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi.

He was quoted as saying, “Gunmen attacked Burshin Fulani village and killed one, Abubakar Muhammad, a senior staff of the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi.

“He was shot on the neck and died on the spot. Policemen who rushed to the scene evacuated the victim to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), Bauchi, where he was certified dead.

Mr Wakil added that policemen stationed close to the scene of the incident quickly responded on hearing gunshots of the gunmen.

He said, “Our patrol team stationed at the polytechnic gate on hearing gunshots from the direction at about 4:000 am quickly rushed to the area, on sighting the light of the patrol van the gunmen fled.

“The deceased came out to rescue his children who were struggling with some people at the gate, and immediately he emerged, they shot him.”

By Tajuddeen Ahmad Tijjani

Let me draw the attention of the listening Bauchi State governor, Senator Bala Muhammad, to the nail-biting hardships of Azare New Market, Katagum LGA, on the urgent need to construct rural roads in the said area for the economic development of the zone and beyond.

Azare is the Bauchi state’s second-largest city and is also the headquarters of the Katagum zone. It is bordered on the east by Damban LGA and Potiskum, Yobe state. On the south by Misau local government and Jama’are local government in the west; and on the north by Itas/Gadau LGA. All these towns rely heavily on the Azare market for their commercial activities. That’s why Azare economic viability is very significant, particularly in the state and northeast in general.

Remember that the former Central Market was destroyed by fire on June 18, 2018. This caused traders and business people to relocate to the new market built during the military administration of Theophilus Bamigboye. Though recently, the market was expanded, and new shops were erected with the donations made after the inferno of the old market. Unfortunately, this new market lacks a rural road that would facilitate the transfer of goods and farm produce from rural areas to markets with significant concentrations of demand.

Unfortunately, the fire that destroyed the ancient market spread due to a lack of access roads for fire engines. The lack of roadway pavement in the new market, God forbid, could exacerbate the situation. Also, the government should checkmate, as a matter of priority, new allocations of shop spaces by local government administration, particularly around the current access road, to avoid repeating previous mistakes.

The new market is situated off Kano road. However, lack of access road delays in conveying farm products and movement of people to acquire their daily demands. In the same vein, people find it very difficult, especially during the rainy seasons. Moreover, drainage and flooding cause severe hardships to the people. It looks like a pond, especially after rainfalls. 

Governor Bala has made infrastructural development a top priority without a doubt. This has transformed the narrative. Necessary infrastructures are essential for growth. As a result, we’re appealing to our state’s workaholic leader to come to the people’s rescue. Internal Revenue will perhaps increase due to this because the inflow of goods and services will be greater than before.

For Bauchi to become the envy of other states, good infrastructure must be put in place, which would, indeed, attract investors to inject their resources into the state. We’re all aware of how insecurity has drastically retarded development in the northeast. Thank God, Katagum and Bauchi are relatively peaceful, which made them a destination for economic activities. But, without good roads, the gains made, would be diminished.

Tajuddeen Ahmad Tijjani writes from Galadima Mahmoud Street, Kasuwar-Kaji Azare, Bauchi State.

By Mallam Musbahu Magayaki

It is no longer news that flooding has washed away about 1,567 farmlands on Tuesday 10 August 2021 in Jama’are Local Government Area of Bauchi State. According to reports by Daily Trust, there were seven villages affected by the menace.

However, Jama’are River, also known as the Bunga River in its upper reaches, starts in the highlands near Jos, Plateau State, Nigerian, and flows northeast through Bauchi and Yobe States before joining the Hadejia River to form the Yobe River. Therefore, if and when over flooding occurs, the resultant effect would undoubtedly lead to the loss of countless lives of peoples’ and destroy their farmlands because of its wide range.

Furthermore, mitigating flooding hazard is one of the responsibilities of ecological fund management by funding the projects to alleviate and manage social-ecological knots. And by extension, the management concerned can liaise with the state government witnessing devastating and uncontrollable flooding risk.

Remember that almost 80 per cent of Jama’are dwellers are farmers where they find it too difficult to get their farming crops for sale in the market when flooding occurs. People from various regions of this country are struggling in Jama’are to buy farming materials. As a result of continuous flooding each rainy season, there are attendant of loss of farming produce.

The government is negligent in mitigating the flooding menace. As the federal government fully knows all the areas submerged by flooding in the rainy season, the government should do the needful before the season.

Advisably, the government should set up committees for monitoring flooding affected areas by observing the type of works that the site needs.

In a nutshell, ecological fund management and state government should, in a matter of urgency, collaborate with World banks flood protection projects to seek their assistance because the projects are capital intensive.

Mallam Musbahu Magayaki writes from Sabon Fegi, Azare, Bauchi State. He can be reached via usbahumuhammad258@gmail.com.

By Sulaiman Maijama’a

Reading the report of the disheartening revelation that the Bauchi state government has uncovered over 7000 ghost workers and pensioners from its payroll, which will enable it to realise over 500 Million Naira savings monthly, has given me sleepless nights this week. This is one of the terrible experiences I have had in recent times. I did not know when I was engulfed by raw, unadulterated pain, thinking about how the state’s governor, Bala Mohammed, is taking bold steps to sanitise civil service and block all leakages, other ungodly and unpatriotic people are sabotaging his efforts. If the government is to employ fresh graduates on the N50,000 salary scale, 500 million is equivalent to 10,000 employees.

 When the global economy is ravaged, and governments all over are trying to cushion the effect. Bauchi State is not an exception; these people fail to have the conscience, unleash their cruelty on the resources of the poor masses. And while these fraudulent people, whom I describe as “demons in human structure”, are benefiting illegally from this organised financial scam, the Governor is unjustifiably being criticised for being seen at fault, and the civil servants are in difficulty. This is, indeed, more than double jeopardy. However, if justice is to prevail, one cannot point an accusing finger at the citizens of the state who have been registering their discontent and throwing a barrage of questions to the State Governor, Sen. Bala Mohammed, seeking clarification on why are the salaries of some workers not paid as at when due. Those who think to seek clarification on issues of this nature is a crime know nothing about the Constitution because every citizen is entitled to ask questions on any public issue, except for classified matters, as by law established.

For a couple of months ago, there have been concerns by the Bauchi State citizens, especially civil servants, as regards the hitches that result in delay of the payment of some workers’ salaries in the State. Because Bauchi State is a civil service state, the problem appears to be the greatest concern of the people these days. The opponents of the PDP led administration take that to their advantage by crashing in, posing questions to the Government in power as to why the delay and why despite death, retirement and record of no employment, there has been an exponential rise in the wage bill?

This fraud in civil service started long before Senator Bala Mohammed came on board as the executive governor of Bauchi state. Though his approach to bringing it to a halt is extraordinary, It appears we have a long way to go as the efforts have always proven to be an exercise in futility.

To address the challenges on the issue in September 2020, Governor Bala hosted a Media Parley with civil servants, labour leaders, Government’s officials, elder statesmen, stakeholders and the Media where massive corruption in the system was exposed. A financial consulting firm, DYNATECH Solutions Limited, contracted by the State Government to sanitise its payroll and nominal roll, had revealed that ghost pensioners had been paid over N700 million within one year. While addressing the government, DYNATECH said the sum of N744,000,000 had been siphoned out of the state treasury.

I was then happy when the Governor resolved not to spare anyone found behind the organised financial crime on the Government’s payroll. Unfortunately, however, less than one year down the line, some people could be brave enough to summon the courage and orchestrate their devilish act, just a replay of last year. Something then is wrong!  For Senator Bala to find a lasting solution to this, he must begin to speak to those found to be involved in collecting undeserved salaries and pensions “in a language that they understand”. What language do they understand?

I remember a couple of months ago when some crooks found to be behind financial scams on the state’s payroll were publicised; their names published on national dailies along with pictures and their places of work. Please, your Excellency, sustain this. Whoever is found indulging in such a shameful act, regardless of his social status, should be breaking news for the day on national dailies, radio and television stations. Their names should make the banner headlines, and their pictures take the front pages of the newspaper. This is the best way to embarrass them, just like they embarrass the responsibility they are entrusted with. It will also serve as a deterrent to others.

Since these people do not mean and wish well for the society as their actions result in general affliction in the society with public institutions being grounded to a halt, please, your Excellency, we want to see them facing the fullest wrath of the law, being chased to jail, for they are nothing but calamity to our journey to promised land.

Maijama’a writes from the Faculty of Mass Communication, Bayero University, Kano. He can be contacted via sulaimanmaija@gmail.com.