Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has sworn in the newly appointed commissioners into office. The ceremony took place at the Government House auditorium in Lokoja, the state capital.
Mr. Bello announced that he had trimmed the number of ministries in the state from 20 to 15 to cut the cost of governance.
The governor said at Friday’s event that, “Kogi State Government has been formed completely,” adding, ” we no longer have excuses not to perform”.
Mr. Bello reminded his appointees that they have little time to jubilate over their appointments because the state is facing challenges.
“This is not to the time to jubilate. Until we have fulfilled our terms or terms serving the people well,” he said.
The governor said he used senatorial district to distribute the portfolio of the commissioners.
“In this government, nobody can say they are marginalised. We are not here for politics but to administer. Governance has come,” he said.
Mr. Bello had forwarded the list of 15 commissioners and 8 Advisers to the state Assembly on Wednesday.
The House approved the list inits sitting on Thursday, paving the way for Friday’s sweating in.
Those appointed and their portfolios include: Abdulmumini Sadiq, Works, Land and Housing, Saka Haruna, Health, Sanusi Usman, Commerce and Industry and
Tim Dichie, Agricultural and Natural Resources. Others are Enema Paul, Rural Development Tolorunleke Sunday, Education and Technology, Oloruntoba Kehinde, Budget and Planning, Mohammed Awal, Information, Culture and Tourism, Bolanle Amupitan, Women and Social Development and Arome Adoji, Youth Development and Sports.
Also sworn in are Salisu Ogu, Transport Salami Ozigi, Water Resources, Mohammed Ibrahim, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, as well as Rosemary Osikoya, Environment and Idris Asiwaju, Finance.
