Sokoto's Tambuwal becomes the first governor to form a cabinet as lawmakers approve his commissioners

GOVERNOR Aminu Tambuwal has become the first chief executive in the country to constitute his cabinet after the Sokoto State House of Assembly approved his list of commissioner nominees yesterday.

In May 29, President Muhammadu Buhari and 29 state governors were sworn-in but so far, none of them have constituted their cabinets. Despite several governors facing serious infrastructural and security challenges, none of them has so far even submitted their list of nominees to their state houses of assembly, which has prevented them from getting them hitting the ground running.

However, Governor Tambuwal has taken the lead on this matter and with the Sokoto State House of Assembly approving his nominees, his cabinet can begin work straight away. His nominees include the immediate past secretary to the state government Professor Bashir Garba and the outgoing speaker of the Sokoto State House of Assembly Hon Saliu Maidaji.

There are also three female nominees including Professor Aisha Maidawaki Isa, Hon Kulu Sifawa and Dr Kulu Haruna. Also on the list is the outgoing member of the Federal House of Representatives representing Kebbe/Tambuwal federal constituency, Hon Abdulsamad Dasuki.

Another notable name on the list is the son of the former governor of the state, Attahiru Bafarawa, Alhaji Sagir Attahiru Bafarawa. Yesterday, the Sokoto State House of Assembly presided over by the deputy speaker Hon Abu Magaji, approved all the nominees and they are expected to begin work today.

Despite being in office for over a week, no other governor has submitted his list of nominees for approval. At the federal level, President Buhari will have to wait for the election of new National Assembly leaders on June 11 before his list of ministerial nominees can be screened and approved.