Niger State Governor, Umaru Mohammed Bago, on Monday dissolved the state executive council with immediate effect, directing all commissioners to hand over to their respective permanent secretaries.
The dissolution, announced during the weekly State Executive Council meeting at the Government House, Minna, affects all 36 commissioners appointed two years ago, on August 30, 2023.
Governor Bago, who warned the outgoing officials against lobbying for reappointment, said:
“Don’t lobby anyone, don’t lobby me. Nobody can lobby me.”
He, however, clarified that the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chief of Staff, Deputy Chief of Staff, and other principal officers in his office were not affected.
While appreciating the commissioners for their contributions to the state, the governor noted that their performances varied.
“Some of you performed superlatively, some abysmally. That is not to say you are not good,” he said.
Bago disclosed that a new cabinet will be reconstituted within the next one to two weeks, stressing that democracy allows for rotation and fresh appointments.
“Some might be commissioners, some special advisers, and some can be permanent secretaries,” he added.