Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed has apologized to women in Bauchi State over the “unmarried women” appointment letter that went viral since Thursday.
In the appointment letter, the state governor in a press release signed by the Secretary of the State Government Alhaji Sabiu Baba, the governor had approved the appointment of Balaraba Ibrahim, a special assistant on women affairs (unmarried).
The letter has trended virally across the Nigerian cyber space, attracting bashings and condemnation on the State government.
The state governor however in a press statement signed by his media aide Mukhtar Gidado apologized over the error.
“Governor Bala Mohammed is sincerely pained that this error could have caused the women of Bauchi State and elsewhere considerable distress and embarrassment. “He has therefore directed that his personal apologies be conveyed to all women of Bauchi State, particularly the widows and divorcees whose interests he has vowed to protect and advance, always”, the statement partly read.
The statement said the error in the appointment letter “was inadvertently introduced into the letter.” “This is a clear mistake of the head; not of the heart which the Government sincerely regrets”, the statement argues.
The Governor in the statement enjoins “the good people of Bauchi State to put this matter behind us so that, together, we can sustain the achievements that have been recorded, so far, in diverse areas such as youth empowerment, infrastructural development, rehabilitation of schools and primary healthcare centres, amelioration of the plight of senior citizens and retirees and the harmonious relationship between the Executive and the Legislature.”
The statement says the appointment of the special assistant on women affairs was in line with the administration’s regards for women, which “placed high premium for the inclusion of everybody in Bauchi State, in its socio-economic policies.”
“ In this regard, the Government has made the recognition, empowerment and rehabilitation of vulnerable groups, as well as women and the youth, a primary focus of social inclusion”, the statement added.
