The Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed ,has appointed,Balaraba Ibrahim of Ganjuwa Local Government Area of the State as Special Assistant on Women Affairs in charge of unmarried women.
In a letter dated August 4, 2020 and signed by Mohammed Sabiu Baba, Secretary to the State Government, the Kano government said the appointment was in view of hardwork, experience and loyalty adding that the appointment takes immediate effect.
The appointment of a Special Adviser for unmarried women sends signals that the nation’s political leaders have either lost touch with the reality of appropriate designations,or they have simply failed the integrity test and are looking for jester podiums as ways of satisfying their gullible followers.
Bauchi is not alone in this ugly development,In 2018,Kano State government of Unar Ganduje appointed a Special Asststant on Graveyards,
The appointee, Yakubu Nagoda resigned the appointment.
Similarly, the Imo State government of Rochas Okorocha a couple of years ago, appointed a Commissioner for Happiness.
Such appointments are believed to point in the direction of inexposure to governance as there are better ways of rewarding loyalty.
Many who saw the viral letter,s said there was no need for the government to carve out positions of Special Assistant as there are established departments and Ministry that perform such functions.They argued that the Women Affairs Ministry has the responsibility of addressing women issues, so carving out a married and unmarried roles does not make sense.
For the special assistant on Graveyards, that they argued should be domiciled either in the Ministry of Health, Environment and could even be under a function of a Special Adviser on special duties.while there was no need to carve out a ministry of happiness as Ministry of Information,and Ministry or Department of Social Welfare can take on such complementary roles.
