Dikko Radda, Katsina State Governor has given a go ahead for the appointment of seven new officials to strategic positions in his administration, moving swiftly to strengthen key government institutions following a wave of resignations by political appointees in recent days.
The appointments come as the administration moves to keep its Building Your Future agenda on track despite recent cabinet reshuffles.
Leading the appointments is prominent JIBWIS leader renowned Islamic scholar, Sheikh Nasiru Funtua, who was named Chairman of the Katsina State Pilgrims Welfare Board.
Also appointed as Special Advisers to the Governor are Sirajo Batagarawa and Abubakar Kusada.
Radda said the appointments, announced on Tuesday, were based on merit, competence and proven capacity to deliver, urging the new appointees to regard their appointments as a call to selfless service and to place the interests of Katsina State above personal considerations.
The governor said Funtua's appointment underscores his administration's focus on credible leadership, solid religious grounding and accountable management of pilgrims' affairs, adding that he is confident the new chairman will improve the Board's performance and better serve intending pilgrims.
Batagarawa joins the administration with an extensive professional background spanning law, academia, public administration and security.
A lawyer and quantity surveyor with a PhD in Law from the University of London, he previously served as a Senior Lecturer and Head of the Department of Public and International Law at Nile University of Nigeria.
His career also includes service in the Department of State Services as well as senior administrative positions in the offices of the President and Vice President.
Kusada brings years of experience in education, administration, and human resource management.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Education (English) from the University of Jos and is pursuing a Master’s degree in English Language at the Federal University Dutsin-Ma.
Before joining the Transmission Company of Nigeria, where he rose to the position of Assistant Manager, he served in various administrative capacities at the Federal University Dutsin-Ma.
Shamsuddeen Dutsin-Ma was also appointed as Director-General of the Katsina State Erosion and Watershed Management Agency (KEWMA) and Muhammad Musa as Commander-General of the Katsina State Hisbah Board.
Following the statement of the governor, Dutsin-Ma’s more than two decades of experience in executive leadership, strategic management, logistics, agribusiness, procurement and investment would strengthen the state’s efforts in erosion control, watershed management and environmental sustainability.
Radda also appointed Ma’aruf Kawo Dandume as Senior Special Assistant and Lawal Musa as a member of the Katsina State Pilgrims Welfare Board.
Musa, who holds postgraduate qualifications in public administration, financial management and local government studies, is expected to contribute to improved administration and service delivery at the Pilgrims Welfare Board.
Congratulating the appointees, the governor charged them to justify the confidence reposed in them by embracing accountability, diligence and measurable performance while working closely with relevant stakeholders to translate government policies into tangible benefits for the people of Katsina State.
The appointments come after a series of resignations involving political office holders in the state.
Some of the people who recently stepped down were former Commander-General of the Katsina State Hisbah Board, Aminu Usman (Abu Ammar), former Chairman of the Katsina State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Kabir Bature, Deputy Commander of Operations, Muhammad Maslaha, Special Adviser on Youth Development, Abubakar Tsanni and Senior Special Assistant on Project Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation, Fadila Dalhatu.
Although the timing of the resignations has sparked political interest, claims linking them to supposed internal rifts within the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress have not been confirmed.
Some political analysts and anonymous party sources have floated theories of potential realignments, but neither the former appointees nor the state government has offered an official reason.