The Governor of Niger State, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has thrown his weight behind a single-term tenure for governors, insisting that the current political system hinders bold decision-making and stifles productivity in governance.
Naijaonpoint reports that Bago made this known while administering the oath of office to newly elected local government chairmen, their deputies, commissioners, and board members at the Hauwa Isah Wali Multipurpose Hall, Government House, Minna, the state capital.
Expressing his frustration with the influence of political considerations on leadership, the governor revealed that he had been forced to postpone critical decisions due to the upcoming elections.
“There were things I would have done today but I am deferring them because of elections. I have to sack some people who are not useful, but I cannot because of politics. They have failed their examinations severally; they cannot be promoted, but they are burdens on the system,” he lamented.
Bago stressed that a single-term structure would empower governors to make more impactful decisions without being held hostage by political calculations.
“I am an advocate of a single term for governors because, unfortunately, we are back politically. Everything in Nigeria is full of politics. It is unfortunate,” he added.
While addressing the appointees and elected officials, Bago described the event as the start of the second phase of the New Niger agenda, a policy direction aimed at transforming the state through innovation, infrastructure, and inclusive governance.
“You are now part of the machinery to move this state forward. You must align with our development blueprint and deliver on the promises made to the people,” the governor told the officials.
A total of 30 commissioners, 25 local government chairmen, along with their vice-chairpersons and various board members, were sworn in during the ceremony.
The oaths of office and allegiance were administered by Justice Maimuna Abubakar, who represented the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Halima Abdulmalik.
The Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Abubakar Usman, in his remarks, called on the appointees to see their new roles as a renewed call to duty.
He disclosed that the officials had recently completed an eight-day retreat designed to equip them with the skills and mindset needed to deliver on the administration’s objectives.
“Our focus remains on security and reviving the agricultural sector. The New Niger Agenda is not just a slogan; it’s a commitment,” he said.
Governor Bago also called on residents to unite in the fight against insecurity and to embrace peace regardless of ethnic or religious differences.
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