Kaduna Assembly Confirms Hajara Muhammad As KADSIECOM Chairperson

The Kaduna State House of Assembly has officially approved Hajara Muhammad as the chairperson of the State’s Independent Electoral Commission (KADSIECOM).

Additionally, the lawmakers also confirmed the appointments of Noel Haruna and Fatima Kera as permanent commissioners of the commission.

Naijaonpoint understands that Muhammad’s confirmation follows her recent appointment as the chairperson of KADSIECOM by Governor Uba Sani.

The House said Muhammad brings a wealth of experience to the role, having been a part of KADSIECOM since 2002, following her completion of a Higher National Diploma (HND) in tourism at Kaduna Polytechnic in 1999.

Furthermore, she obtained a postgraduate diploma in International Studies and Diplomacy in 2004 from the same institution, as well as a master’s degree in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).

Muhammad has expressed her commitment to enhancing the professionalism of the state’s electoral agency, as she shared during discussions with journalists following her confirmation.

“We will ensure that our ad hoc staff are well trained and our permanent staff improve their professionalism while being transparent and inclusive,” Muhammad said after her confirmation.

Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has reinstated the paramount ruler of Piriga in the Lere local government area of the state, Chief Jonathan Zamuna.

The Governor announced the reinstatement on Thursday, July 4, during a meeting with the State Council of Chiefs.

Naijaonpoint recalls Zamuna was dethroned by former Governor Nasir El-Rufai just a few days before the end of his tenure in 2023.

However, Sani said the reinstatement of the traditional ruler is in compliance with a court order issued on 10th June 2024, restoring the royal father to his stool.

The Kaduna State Governor further stated the readiness of his government to work with the traditional institution, describing them as a stabilizing force in Kaduna state and the country in general.

“The Traditional Institution has remained a stabilizing force in our communities and in the state as a whole. The Traditional Institution has shown resilience in the face of modernity. Because of your closeness to the people, it is in the interest of governments at all levels to treat you with respect and work closely with you to deepen participation in governance and secure our communities.

“One of the key pillars of our Governance Agenda is Nurturing Citizens’ Engagement. We want to effectively involve our citizens in the decision-making processes. Traditional Rulers are not only critical stakeholders, but key influencers that must be accorded all the attention and respect deserving of their exalted position.

“I want to remind you, with every sense of humility, that I am a democrat and a respecter of the rule of law. I also know too well how traditional values have shaped our state for the better.

“Let me recall that even during my days as an activist, I had a respectable and healthy relationship with the traditional institution. On the strength of these, I want to say that all our traditional rulers, from all parts of the State, are our royal fathers, and we hold you all in high esteem.

“In our one year in office, we have carried critical stakeholders along in our strategic objectives, and this includes key engagements with our traditional institution. Therefore our doors remain wide open for our continued interaction on issues of development and security of our State.

“I know that challenges of banditry and insecurity have affected us all in our various Emirates and Chiefdoms. I assure you that I am not relenting in my efforts and we are as focused as ever on improving the security situation across the State.

“We have made considerable progress with our plans in the siting of a Brigade in the Southern Kaduna general area. Similarly, we are working on having more military presence in frontline areas across Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Igabi, Kajuru, Kachia, Kagarko and Chikun LGAs.

“We are stabilizing and changing the tide in Zangon Kataf, Kaura and Igabi LGAs. We are working assiduously to secure Birnin Gwari, Chikun, Kajuru and fringes of Kauru and closely attending to threats in Kubau, Soba, Lere, Kudan, Makari and Ikara corridors on our border with Katsina, Kano, Bauchi and Plateau states,” the government noted.