On Wednesday, 28 October, 2020, the Executive Governor of Bauchi state, Sen. Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed had inaugurated a Judicial Panel of inquiry to investigate human right abuses in Bauchi state by the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police Force.
Governor Bala presided the inauguration of the committee at the Banquet Hall, Government House Bauchi. The committee is to submit their report in six months.
Terms of reference of the Judicial Panel are to receive written and oral evidence of SARS brutality by victims within the state and also to determine those responsible for the abuse of victims and recommend them for prosecution and to summon witnesses where necessary.
Others include recommendation of measures to be taken by the government to forestall future re-occurrence of violent protests, appropriate compensation to be paid to victims and to submit a progress report to the government on a monthly basis.
Governor Bala charged members of the committee to discharge their duty to the best of their ability assuring them of his full support.
The 17 members are to be chaired by Justice Habibu Idris Shall (RTD). The Chairman thanked the Governor for finding them worthy to be in the panel.
On Thursday, 29 October, 2020, the day was marked as this year’s Eid-el-Maulud day. Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed has called on Muslim ummah in the state to use the day for sober reflection and self-evaluation to strengthen their relationship with fellow human beings.
The Governor in his 2020 Maulud message said Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) had lived a simple and exemplary life besides the divine relations which he received and passed on to his followers especially preaching peace, honesty, patience, generosity, humility, sincerely, love for one another and the fear of God.
Governor Bala enjoined people of the state to imbibe and put into practice the virtues irrespective of their religious inclinations for peaceful coexistence in the society.
He urged Muslims to continue to pray for peace, calling on them to bury their ethnicity, religion, regional or political differences and continue to live peacefully with one another.
Governor Bala had stressed the need for people of the state to offer a special prayer for peace in the state in particular and the nation at large in the face of the current security challenges in different parts of the country.
He used the occasion to reiterate the irrevocable commitment of his administration to the maintenance of law and order adding that his administration has taken all measures to ensure safety of lives and property of all citizens of the state.
On Friday, 30 October, 2020, the Executive Governor of Bauchi state, Sen. Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed had received in audience, the Director-General of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NASREA), Professor Aliyu Jauro.
During an interactive session with the Director-General and other principal officers of the Agency, Governor Bala had welcomed them to Bauchi and promised sound partnership with them.
The Governor told the visitors that a policy on zero tolerance to environmental sanitation has been produced to find lasting solutions to the challenges identified.
Sen. Bala said science and technology would be used to tackle the number of environmental problems facing different parts of the state.
Governor Bala said an environmental science laboratory in the state would soon be established at the cost of about 40 million naira.
The Director-General of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NASREA), Professor Aliyu Jauro said they are in Bauchi to seek for a partnership between the two bodies in line with the mandate of the Agency.
He said the presence of NASREA in Bauchi state will help to achieve effective implementation of the Agency’s mandate such as bringing environmental consciousness to the grassroots, saying the state is blessed with abundant mineral resources.
The Chairman said NASREA has responsibility for the protection and development of the environment, biodiversity conservation and sustainable development of Nigeria’s natural resources in general and environmental technology including coordination, liaison with relevant stakeholders within and outside Nigeria on matters of concerns.
On Sunday, 1 November, 2020, His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Bauchi State Senator Bala Abdulkadir Muhammed had officially commissioned an upgraded Hospital Sanitation Facility at Specialist Hospital Bauchi executed by the State Government in partnership with water is the right foundation of Germany.
Governor Bala acknowledged the efforts of Nigerian Ambassador to Germany, Yusuf Maitama Tugga who facilitated his working visit to Germany in March 2020.
He said the visit has attracted numerous German NGOs and investors resulting in the signing of several MoUs in the areas of agriculture, solid minerals, renewable energy, waste management, education and health.
The Governor said the interventions would complement the ongoing efforts of his Government to stimulate economic growth and provide jobs for the teeming numbers of unemployed youth.
Governor Bala disclosed that 2 of the MoUs and cooperation agreements have now been fully executed while the first one is the donation of 90 mobility carts by Bruder Hilfe Foundation.
The Governor was delighted with the positive impact of the NGO’s activities in the state, honoured the Coordinator of the NGO, Mrs. Nancy Musa with an honorary citizenship of Bauchi state.
The Coordinator of the NGO, Mrs Nancy Musa in appreciation for the good working relationship between the state government and her organisation, presented an award of excellence to Governor Bala tagged “Award of excellence to the people’s Governor of Bauchi State”.
Lawal Mu’azu Bauchi, Special Assistant to the Governor on new media reported that the ceremony had in attendance the Deputy Speaker, Bauchi State House of Assembly, Honorable Dallami Kawule, State PDP Chairman, Alhaji Hamza Koshe Akuyam, Honorable Commissioners, Special Advisers, PDP elders and other invited guests.
Compiled by Abdullahi Rufa’i Adamu from Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic, Bauchi
