By; MOHAMMED KAWU, Bauchi
The Bauchi State Government is now set to revisit the issue of additional district, village and hamlet areas, following growing calls by communities across the state that culminated to the inauguration Wednesday of a committee by Governor Mohammed Abubakar to that effect.
A statement signed by the press secretary to the governor, Abubakar Al-Sadique, said the committee which is being chaired by retired Justice Dahiru to review the dissolution by the State House of Assembly in 2015 of districts, village and hamlet areas the was necessitated by their increase from 39 to 193 by the immediate past administration, without consideration for the state of finances of the state.
The Governor, while inaugurating the committee, lamented that the increase in the number of district areas was driven by sentiments that eroded the integrity of the institution and rendered the institution too weak to effectively deliver, stressing that developments after the dissolution indicate yearnings of the people signaling love for the increase.
According to him, the calls for review of the districts have made it imperative for the state government to revisit the dissolution of the new districts in a manner that the exercise will protect integrity of the traditional institution and increase its efficiency and effectiveness.
“Government decided to constitute a committee of integrated personalities to conduct this review with a view to reinstating those found to be reasonable and devoid of sentiments,” Abubakar said.
Abubakar therefore implored upon the committee members to be guided by the dignity and respectability of the traditional institution, the history and the population of the districts to be created, and the desirability or otherwise of the exercise in view of the dwindling resources available to government.
He also charged the committee to liaise with the emirates and local government councils in the state for guidance in demarcating and delineating the boundaries of the district, village and hamlet areas.
The committee is mandated to recommend the number of districts to be created or reinstated, to demarcate and delineate boundaries of both the old and the new district and village areas in the state, to identify constituent village areas of each village areas and to consider the contiguity of village and hamlet areas within the districts.
Members of the committee are retired AIG Garba Mohammed (Sarkin Yakin Katagum), Ambassador Babaji Umar (Wazirin Misau), Alhaji Nuhu Mohammed Wabi (Yariman Jama’are), Alhaji Lawal Baraza (Sardaunan Dass), Alhaji Haruna Yunusa (Chiroman Ningi), and Alhaji Bala Ahmed Baban Inna (Bauchi Chief Imam).
Others are Alhaji Bala Attahiru (Ajiyan Bauchi), Alhaji Mohammed Gadoji (Turakin Katagum), Alhaji Babayo Ahmed (Katukan Misau), Alhaji Abubakar Isa, Alhaji Mustapha Katagum, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Tafawa Balewa, and Alhaji Bashir Yakubu Lame.
The committee has five weeks within which to complete its assignment and submit report to the state government.
