Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State on Wednesday sworn in Dr. (Mrs) Folashade Arike Ayoade as the Secretary to the Kogi State Government and Hon. Ali Bello as his Chief of Staff.
The governor also sworn in the state’s 18 new commissioners and senior aides that will work with him to pilot the affairs of the state.
The swearing in ceremony took place at the Governor House in Lokoja.
Governor Ododo administered the oath of office on the Secretary to the State Government and the Chief of Staff Governor while the oath of office was administered on the commissioners and senior aides by the State Solicitor General, Justice Falilat Yusuf.
Speaking, Governor Ododo charged the new appointees to be fair to everyone in the discharge of their duties.
He also charged them to offer their best of services to the administration.
He told them that they were appointed on the basis of their enviable track records, saying that they are expected to demonstrate commitment by being worthy representatives of the people of the state.
“As you assume office in your various ministries, departments and agencies of the Kogi State government, you must be reminded that we are neither the best nor the most deserving of the over four Million Kogites that are equally very eminently qualified, ” he said.
He enjoined the appointees to work in the interest of all Kogites without discrimination in whatever guise or form.
Ododo stressed that they must be dedicated, committed and do justice to all manner of people in the course of their service to the state.
The governor further noted that the people of the state expect a better performance from the new administration.
He added that a system of performance evaluation has been put in place to track and measure the impact of the government on the lives of the people at every point in the tenure of the administration.
While acknowledging the support his administration has received from the people of the state, Governor Ododo promised to lead by example by ensuring a culture of service, probity, transparency and accountability in service to the people of the state.
He called on the new appointees to work as a team to deliver on the mandate of the people for consolidation and continuity under the new administration.
Responding on behalf of the new appointees, the Secretary to the Government of the State, Mrs. Folashade Arike Ayoade thanked Governor Ododo for the confidence reposed in her and other appointees and promised not to disappoint the governor and the people of Kogi State.
The new commissioners and their portfolios are : Muizideen Yunus Abdallah, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice , Engr. Muhammed Ihiezu Abdulmutalib, Ministry of Rural Development and Energy, Barr. Momodu Salami Ozigi Deedat, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Dr. Adams Abdulaziz, Ministry of Health and Mrs. Fatima Momoh, Ministry of Women Affairs.
Others are ; Mr. Abanika Taiye, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development ,
Engr. Muhammed Yusuf, Ministry of Works, Hajiya Rabiyetu Okute, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation , Mr. Timothy Ojoma, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and Asiwaju Ashiru Idris, Ministry of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning .
Those sworn in also include ; Engr. Bashir Muhammed Abubakar, Ministry of Solid Mineral and Natural Resources,
Mr. Sunday Faleke, Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations , Evangelist Kingsley Fanwo, Ministry of Information and Communication, Engr. Farouk Danladi, Ministry of Water Resources , Joseph Olwasegun, Ministry of Environment and Ecological Management , Mr. Wemi Jones, Ministry of Education , Mr. Anyebe Aridaojo Monday, Ministry of Youth and Sports and Mr. Muhammed Mukhtar Shaibu, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Senior aides sworn in along with the commissioners are : retired Air Commodore Jerry Omodara, Security Adviser, Hon. Yakubu Siyaka Adabenege: Auditor- General for Local Government , Alhaji Suleiman Ibrahim, Director-General of Protocol in Government House, Ismaila Isah, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Hon. Oladele John Nihi, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor .
(vitalnewsngr.com)
