Governor Bago 2.webp
The Digest:

Niger State Governor Umar Bago has stated that his 2027 re-election ambition is preventing him from sacking unproductive officials. According to his remarks at a swearing-in ceremony, he advocates for a single-term gubernatorial system to enable more decisive governance.

Key Points:
  • Governor Bago openly admitted he is deferring the dismissal of certain officials until after the 2027 election for political reasons.
  • He described the affected officials as burdens who have "failed their examinations severally" and are "not useful".
  • Bago used the occasion to strongly advocate for a single-term tenure for governors, arguing it would eliminate political distractions and "promote productivity".
  • He suggested that under a single-term system, he would have been "more decisive" in removing non-performing appointees.
  • The governor also called for the establishment of state police, describing it as necessary for security and social justice.
  • During the ceremony, 30 commissioners, 25 local government chairmen, and other board members were sworn in.
  • Bago urged the new officials to support his administration's "New Niger" agenda and called for unity against insecurity.
Governor Bago's candid admission highlights a fundamental tension in Nigeria's political system: the pursuit of re-election can compromise administrative efficiency and accountability. His call for structural reform frames the dilemma not as a personal failing but as a systemic storm where political survival and effective governance are often at odds.

Sources: Daily Trust, Punch Newspapers, and Radio Nigeria