Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has explained why he cannot dismiss non-performing appointed officers in his administration, citing concerns over the political implications for his re-election bid.
The governor made the remarks on Friday while inaugurating newly appointed local government chairmen and vice chairmen, commissioners, board members, and some permanent secretaries at the Government House in Minna.
“It is unfortunate that there are things I would have done. I would have sacked some people who are not performing, but I must be mindful of my second-term ambition,” Bago said. He noted that some officials are a burden to the system, adding, “Everything in Nigeria today is about politics and second term.”
The governor also advocated for single-term tenure for elected officers in the country, stressing that, “If I had a single term, I would have been more decisive than I am now. Some elected officers would have done their best if they knew they had only one term.” He lamented the culture of procrastination in governance, attributing it to the politics of re-election.
Speaking on the newly inaugurated appointees, Bago described the ceremony as the launch of the second phase of the ‘New Niger Agenda’, aimed at rejuvenating the state government. “We decided to let old things pass away; everything becomes new. We must build a new Niger that is tolerant,” he said.
On security matters, the governor expressed concern over the recent abduction of students from the Catholic Missionary School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area. “Three weeks ago, we woke up to hear that some children were abducted. This is not the Niger State we used to know. God will deliver Niger State and Nigeria; all the evildoers in the land will not have peace,” he stated, offering two minutes of prayers for the safe release of the abducted students.
Governor Bago, tracing his origins during the event, said he comes from a nomadic background but clarified that he is not a bandit.
In total, 30 commissioners, 25 local government chairmen and their vice chairmen, and several permanent secretaries were inaugurated during the ceremony.