By Eric Elezuo
He is one of the few performers in the new dispensation. He is the governor of Bauchi State, Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, who just celebrated a landmark age of 65.
Born October 5, 1958, Bala Mohammed, as he is simply called, is on the second lap of his tenure, having served Bauchi State since 2019.
Prior to becoming governor of Bauchi State, he was minister of the Federal Capital Territory from 2010 to 2015, and Senator for Bauchi South senatorial district from 2007 to 2010. Presently, he is a ranking member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.
The governor began his educational pursuit in 1965 at Duguri Primary School, Bauchi where he obtained a first leaving certificate in 1971. Thereafter, he attended Government School Bauchi and obtained his West African School Certificate in 1975.
He went further to obtain his advanced level testimonial in 1979 from North East College of Art and Science before proceeding to the University of Maiduguri for a Bachelor of Arts degree
Bala Mohammed began his civil service experience as an administrative officer at the Federal Ministry of Internal Affairs where he served until 1994 when he moved over to the Presidency [Cabinet Secretariat] as the Principal Administration Officer. Bala Mohammed’s rise through the civil service ranks was rapid. Between 1995 and 2005, he rose being the Chief Supplies Officer at the federal Ministry of Solid Minerals – to assistant director at the Federal Ministry of Power and Steel – to Deputy Director/SA to Honorable Minister at the Federal Ministry of Transport – to Director of Administration at the Nigerian Railway Corporations – to Special Assistant to the Honorable Minister of Aviation – to Director of Administration and Supplies at the Nigerian Meteorological Agency. He voluntarily retired from civil service at the level of a director and joined politics.
In 2007, Bala Mohammed contested and won the election to serve the people of South Senatorial zone in Bauchi State at the capacity of a senator under the party platform of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). He served till 2010. While at the senate chamber, he became one of the foremost outspoken legislators in Nigeria, sitting as member of eight Committees vis a vis Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Secretary, Northern Senators Forum. Other committees include Communication, Finance, Public Account, Rules and Business, Environment, Labor and Productivity.
Bala Mohammed is credited for being a vocal advocate for the introduction of the Doctrine of Necessity, which saw former President Goodluck Jonathan, becoming Acting President following the undisclosed illness of late president
As Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), he brought extensive reforms. Among the reforms were the sanitization of the land administration of the FCT, comprehensive expansion of the major road access Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport road to the International Airport in Abuja, the construction of the Kubwa expressway, the rail track from Abuja to Kaduna, and the Idu rail station. He also introduced the land swap policy where land was used as a resource to fast track infrastructural development in the FCT.
The Bala Mohammed FCT administration oversaw the installation of solar panel traffic lights. Other projects executed include the aggressive development of satellite towns, the completion of the Usama Dam Water project. Also, his administration instituted innovations that served as bedrock of financial stability and employment opportunities – such as the FCT Internal Revenue Board, the Outdoor Advertising (Signage) Agency and the FCTA Emergency Services.
On assumption of office as the Governor of Bauchi State in 2019, Mohammed streamlined government processes and protocols and recovered lost and/or stolen government properties including monies. He also launched the exercise to rid the Bauchi State civil service of ghost workers.
Some Achievements Credited to Bala Mohammed
Bala Mohammed acted to begin the sanitization exercise by setting up a committee on Bank Verification Number (BVN) and authentication of civil servants on its payroll. The exercise immediately netted gains for the Bauchi people. This is as the Bauchi State Government removed 1115 employees from the payroll and saved N763,792,664.007. The committee which received a total of 279 petitions, complaints and whistle blower exposés, federal allocations, local and international loans, aids, grants, donations and other interventions, from primary and secondary sources – discovered the administrations of Isa Yuguda and Mohammed Abubakar had looted state owned properties and monies valued in the hundreds of billions of the past years.
Revamping Healthcare: The Bala Mohammed administration in Bauchi State launched a major campaign to revamp and upgrade the healthcare delivery systems in the State. His administration began with healthcare infrastructure. Within the first two years, 323 primary healthcare centers were either constructed, renovated, upgraded and fully equipped across the rural communities under the BASG/NSHIP program. Within the same two-year period, the Bala Mohammed administration constructed, renovated, upgraded and fully equipped secondary healthcare centers such as the General Hospitals located across the various local government areas [LGAs] – ranging from construction of new General Hospital at Warji, Warji LGA, construction of new General Hospital at Dambam, Dambam LGA, construction of new cottage at Yelwan Duguri, and others spread across the LGAs of Bauchi State.
Revolution in Road Construction: In his three years as the Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed has constructed over 250 km – and has already began the process of constructing more roads into the rural communities and farmlands. Ongoing road construction of Burga to Yalwan – Duguri to Yashi is 68.4 km. It links Tafawa Balewa LGA and Alkaleri LGA. Itas to Gadau road is 24.5 km. Bulkachuwa to Udubo road is 36 km abandoned by Mohammed Abubakar, the former governor. Udubo to Gamawa road is 25 km, a federal road being renovated by Bala Mohammed administration. It was also abandoned by Mohammed Abubakar. Bisina township road is 3.8 km – its a town in Katagum senatorial zone. Sade township road is 2.8 km. Sade to Akuyam town is 16.8 km. Bununu township road is 2.8 km. Within the capital city – dualization of Kano road – from Awalah roundabout to airport – 22 km. Dualization of Maiduguri road from Awalah roundabout to Bauchi university in Yuli campus – 14 km. Dualization of Jos road from Total filling station in Bauchi metropolis to Dungal village about 12 km. Newly constructed road commissioned by President Jonathan is 6.4 km in Bauchi metropolis named after Goodluck E. Jonathan. Total renovation of Adamu Jumba road about 1 km. Another road – Ibrahim bako estate road commissioned by Abubakar Atiku – and named after him – 4.8km9.
Housing: In the same spirit of upgrading the lives of the people of Bauchi to acceptable levels of living, the Governor embarked on a 1,500 Housing Estate at Dungal. This is in addition to the ongoing construction of the Bauchi Hajj Camp. His administration has sunk 1046 solar powered and handpump boreholes across the State. The upgrade of the Gubi Dam Water Treatment Plant and the Water Reservoir, near Zaranda Hotel – are both projects that have neared completion.
It will be wrong to state categorically that Bala Mohammed is one of the governors, who came, saw, and is still conquering.
Happy birthday sir!
