Uba Sani, governor of Kaduna, has directed the newly sworn-in commissioners in the state to make use of the official vehicles inherited from the previous administration.
In a statement issued shortly after the inauguration, the governor said the commissioners must make sacrifices and lead by example to achieve his administration’s goal of catering for the poor and vulnerable.
“We are therefore in a period of emergency. This is a time for belt-tightening. Austerity measures have been unofficially declared,” he said.
“We must take firm measures in Kaduna state to cut down on the cost of governance. We must, as political leaders, show our people the way. We must avoid an ostentatious lifestyle. We must not be telling our people to make sacrifices while we are busy living in opulence.
“We are already matching our words with actions. I will continue to use the old cars inherited from the previous administration in Kaduna state. All commissioners must also use the old cars. We must collectively make sacrifices. If we lead by example, our people will follow and support us.
“We shall develop a credible state register that will capture our people in the rural areas, as well as the urban poor. We shall assist them to open bank accounts to enable them to benefit from available opportunities.
“Our goal is to effectively integrate the poor, underserved and vulnerable in Kaduna state into the financial eco-system so that they can benefit from state and federal governments social investment programmes and donor agencies interventions.”
The new members of the cabinet are Sule Shuaibu (justice/attorney general); Shizzer Nasara Joy Bada (finance); Muhammad Sani Bello (education); Umma Kaltume Ahmed (health); Sadiq Mamman Lagos (local government); Aminu Abdullahi Shagali (housing and urban development) and Salisu Rabi (human services and social development).
Others are Benjamin Kumai Gugong (sports development); Ibrahim Hamza (works and infrastructure); Mukhtar Ahmed (planning and budget commission); Abubakar Buba (environment and forestry); Murtala Mohammed Dabo (agriculture); Patience Fakai (business innovation and technology) and Auwal Musa Shugaba (internal security and home affairs).
Sani, who contested the election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), polled 730,002 votes to defeat Isa Ashiru of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who secured 719,196 votes in the governorship election in March.