The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Bauchi State Government

  • Bauchi: Prioritising titles over classrooms

    Bauchi: Prioritising titles over classrooms

    • By Yasir Shehu Adam

    Sir: The Bauchi State government has announced the appointment of 142 District Heads across the 20 emirates and chiefdoms in the state, describing the move as an effort to strengthen traditional governance and grassroots administration.

    The chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, Abubakar Wabi, disclosed this during a media briefing at the Government House in Bauchi. According to him, the exercise followed the Bauchi State Chieftaincy (Appointment and Deposition) Law, 2025, which led to the creation of 20 emirate councils and chiefdoms and, consequently, the establishment of new districts.

    With this development, Bauchi State now has over 140 newly created districts, added to the already existing ones, bringing the total number of districts in the state to well over several hundreds.

    While government officials argue that the appointments will enhance coordination at the grassroots, many Bauchi residents are asking more urgent questions: Is this the most pressing problem of the state? Does the creation of new districts and appointment of district heads solve the crisis in education, health care, or youth unemployment?

    Across Bauchi State today, public schools lack basic learning materials, classrooms are overcrowded or dilapidated, and many children are still out of school. Health facilities remain under-equipped, understaffed, and inaccessible to rural dwellers. At the same time, thousands of young people roam the streets without jobs, skills, or hope for the future.

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    These are the real challenges confronting the people.

    Yet, instead of prioritizing education, health care, job creation, and social welfare, the government continues to expand political and traditional structures that place additional financial burden on the state. The key question remains unanswered: How does this appointment boost the economy of Bauchi State? How does it reduce poverty, unemployment, or insecurity?

    In a democratic system, government is often described as “government of the people, by the people, and for the people.” In this situation, many citizens are struggling to see how these appointments directly serve their daily needs or improve their standard of living.

    This is not an attack on traditional institutions, which have played vital roles in community leadership and conflict resolution. Rather, it is a call for clear priorities. A state with weak education cannot develop. A state with a poor health system cannot protect lives. A state with unemployed youths cannot sustain peace and stability.

    Illiteracy does not bring development. Poor health systems do not save lives. Idle and frustrated youths do not build peaceful societies.

    Year after year, I have consistently emphasized in my writings that education, health, and job creation are the foundations of human development and sustainable growth. Any government that truly seeks progress must place these sectors at the centre of its policies and spending.

    The people of Bauchi deserve honest answers from decision-makers: Why now? At what cost? And to what direct benefit to ordinary citizens? Leadership is not measured by the number of titles created, but by the number of lives improved.

    •Yasir Shehu Adam (Dan Liman),

    Bauchi

  • Bauchi’s unflattering governance scorecard

    Bauchi’s unflattering governance scorecard

    Sir: A recent report by WikkiTimes revealed that the Bauchi State government spent almost N20 billion in just six months of 2025 on vehicles, consultancy services, and travels. This amount is more than the total capital spending on health and education combined for the same period.

    According to the state’s budget performance report for the first and second quarters of 2025, N5.82 billion was spent on vehicles alone, which is already 62.2% of the entire N9.37 billion budgeted for the year. Travels and transport cost N3.65 billion, representing 53.8% of the N6.79 billion annual allocation. Consultancy and other professional services consumed N10.58 billion, which is 80.1% of the N13.21 billion set aside for the whole year. The government has also spent N9.96 billion out of its N10 billion security vote, almost exhausting it in just half a year.

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    Meanwhile, key sectors that directly affect the lives of ordinary people are being neglected: The Ministry of Education, with N23.78 billion for the year, spent only N2.78 billion — just 11.7% of its budget. The Ministry of Higher Education used only N1.41 billion out of N13.85 billion — 10.2%. The Ministry of Health did slightly better, spending N13.99 billion out of N47.15 billion, but that is still less than 30% of its budget.

    This clearly shows a government that is prioritizing political and administrative expenses over the real needs of its people. Bauchi State does not need more luxury vehicles for politicians. What it needs is quality education, functional health care, job opportunities for young people, and good roads that truly serve communities.

    Without these basic services, crime and hardship will continue to rise. The people of Bauchi deserve a government that focuses on their welfare and works to develop the state in a way that benefits everyone — not just those in power.

    •Yasir Shehu Adam (Dan Liman),

    Bauchi

  • Bauchi government condemns arrest of Accountant General

    Bauchi government condemns arrest of Accountant General

    The Bauchi State government has condemned the arrest of its Accountant General by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), labeling it as a politically motivated move that undermines due process.

    The Nation reports that the EFCC had  arrested Alhaji Sirajo Mohammed Jaja, the Accountant General of Bauchi State over an alleged ₦70 billion fraud.

    Jaja was apprehended in Abuja on Wednesday alongside Aliyu Abubakar of Jasfad Resources Enterprise, an unlicensed Bureau de Change (BDC) operator, and Sunusi Ibrahim Sambo, a Point of Sale (PoS) operator.

    EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale confirmed the arrest in a statement issued in Abuja saying the arrest is part of an ongoing investigation into alleged money laundering, diversion of public funds, and misappropriation of state resources.

    Reacting to the arrest in a statement issued  yesterday, the government expressed surprise over the EFCC’s decision to apprehend the official in Abuja while he was attending a Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting.

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     The statement issued by  Governor Bala Mohammed ‘s Special Adviser  on Media and Publicity ,  Mukhtar Gidado  maintained that the matter was already under investigation by the Bauchi State Anti-Corruption Agency, led by a retired EFCC veteran, DIG Sani Mohammed.

    “The EFCC is well aware of our ongoing efforts, which have led to the removal, arrest, and investigation of the former Accountant General and several permanent secretaries. Yet, they chose to sensationalize this case, fueling unnecessary drama and suspicion,” the statement read.

    The state government accused the anti-graft agency of engaging in media trials and political witch-hunting, questioning the timing and manner of the arrest.

    It reaffirmed the state’s commitment to transparency, vowing  to resist any attempts to undermine its governance through “arbitrary treatment” of officials.

    While pledging cooperation with the EFCC, the Bauchi State government called for fairness and objectivity in the fight against corruption, warning against turning anti-corruption efforts into political maneuvering.

  • Bauchi to integrate Tsangaya curriculum into western education

    Bauchi to integrate Tsangaya curriculum into western education

    The Bauchi State Government has inaugurated a technical committee to integrate the traditional Islamiyya and Tsangaya school curriculum into the mainstream Western education system.

    Speaking at the inauguration ceremony in Bauchi yesterday, the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Muhammed Lawal, said the aim is to improve learning quality.

    “This move aligns with the Federal Government’s new structures for integrating non-formal education into the mainstream system for better management,” he stated.

    Dr. Lawal disclosed that the initiative is part of efforts to address the challenge of out-of-school children, which arose from discussions during a recent roundtable meeting.

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    “We want to ensure that children in these schools receive formal education alongside Islamic teachings. It is time to incorporate Western education into their learning process,” he said.

    He explained that the committee’s responsibilities include overseeing the proper implementation of guidelines for this integration and ensuring that it is effectively adopted in the curriculum.

    He added that the committee will ensure accurate data collection on student enrollment in the state’s annual school census.

     The commissioner urged parents and guardians to take advantage of the government’s investment in education by enrolling their children in school.