President Muhammadu Buhari recently appointed a twelve-member North East Development Commission (NEDC) governing board. The President, in a letter addressed to the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan on May 3, 2023, asked the Senate to confirm the appointment of the 12 nominees as members of the Governing Board of the NEDC.
It would be recalled that the tenure of the former Board expired on May 7, 2023.
“In accordance with the provision of Part 1, section 2(5)(b) of the North East Development Commission Establishment Act, 2017, I am pleased to present for confirmation by the Senate, the appointment of twelve (12) nominees as tabulated below, in the Governing Board of the North East Development Commission.
“The Senate is invited to note that the tenure of the current Governing Board of the North East Development Commission ended on 7th May, 2023,” Buhari said.
The nominees include Barr. Bashir Bukar Baale, Chairman, (North East, Yobe), Suwaiba Idris Baba, Executive Director, Humanitarian Affairs, (North East, Taraba), Musa Umar Yashi, Executive Director, Administration and Finance, (North East, Bauchi), Dr Ismaila Nuhu Maksha, Executive Director, Operations (North East, Adamawa) and Umar Abubakar Hashidu, MD/CEO, (North East, Gombe).
Others are Grema Ali, member, (North East, Borno), Onyeka Gospel-Tony, member, (South East), Hon. Mrs Hailmary Ogolo Aipoh, member, (South-South), Air Commodore Babatunde Akanbi (rtd), member, (South West), Mustapha Ahmed Ibrahim, member, (North West), Hadiza Maina, member, (North Central) and a representative from the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning.
However, while pending the confirmation by the Senate, President Buhari had therefore directed the immediate completion of handover formalities in the organisation to avoid a vacuum in the day-to-day running of this very important and strategic Commission.
Meanwhile, the Centre for Social Justice, Equity, and Transparency (CESJET) lauded President Buhari for the new Board describing the nominees as distinguished and credible Nigerians.
In a letter to the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, CESJET appealed for speedy confirmation of the nominees.
“We would like to extend our gratitude to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces over the composition of new governing board members for the NEDC,” the letter said.
“It is indeed a brilliant one with the caliber of nominees, who are credible Nigerians who have distinguished themselves in their various career endeavors. It is indeed a testament to the desire of the President to ensure that there are no leadership gaps in the administration of the NEDC” it added.
Understandably, the expectations on the new board is high with increased appeal on it to, once confirmed by the senate, hit the ground running and ensure it sustain and even surpass the measures currently in place to address the challenges facing the northeast.
Profile Of Some Of The Nominees
Bashir Bukar Ba’ale, NEDC Chairman
Hon. Bar. Bashir Bukar Ba’ale, a Master’s Degree holder in Humanitarian and Refugees Studies and a Masters in International Humanitarian Law from the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University ABU Zaria, is set to make history as Chairman Governing Board of the North East Development Commission (NEDC).
He was the Secretary, The Buhari Organization (TBO) Yobe state chapter 2003-2015. And the Buhari Presidential Party Returning Officer in Yobe State 2003-2015.
Hon. Bashir Ba’ale was also State Organizing Secretary of the defunct CPC Yobe State chapter, Acting State Secretary of CPC, and House Representative Candidate of CPC 2011 general election in Yobe state.
He also served as Chairman, Secretary, and Member of several other Committees aimed at promoting progressive party democracy and good governance. This includes National Executive Member Akasa-Atsare Buhari Organization 2006-2007, National Coordinator, the Buhari Achievements Awareness Forum 2018-date, Chairman Screening Committee APC, Bauchi National Assembly Bye Election 2018, Member APC Appeal Committee, Bakura State Constituency in Zamfara, 2009 Bye Election, Member Legal Committee 2012 APC National Convention, Member APC Primary Election Committee Bayelsa State, Member Buhari Presidential Support Committee 2019, Member Contact and Mobilization APC Presidential Campaign Council 2023 among others.
His working experience includes Health Attendant, Gujba Local Government Council 1998-2002, Supervisory Councillor, Gujba Local Government 2013-2015, Legal Officer Gujba LGA 2002-2010, Board Member Yobe Television Authority 2012 and Board Member College of Administration Potiskum 2010-2012.
Born 30th December, 1980 in Goniri, Gujba local government area of Yobe State, Bashir Bukar Ba’ale, attended Central Primary School, Buni-Yadi from 1985-1991, Government College Nguru from 1991-1997. He later proceeded to Federal Polytechnic Damaturu for his Diploma Certificate in Law. He was at the University of Maiduguri from 2012-2017 where he bagged his Bachelor of Law Certificate (BL). He was admitted to Nigeria Law School 2017-2018 and called to the Bar in 2019. He was also at the Institute of Nigeria Chattered Mediators and Conciliators 2018-2018 respectively.
Hon. Bashir Bukar Ba’ale will be the first Chairman of the Governing Board of the North East Development Commission (NEDC), with a Masters Degree in Humanitarian and Refugee Studies and Masters in International Humanitarian Law, which will no doubt help the Commission in a greater way.
Dr. Umar Hashidu, MD/CEO
Dr. Hashidu’s scorecard, when he served as managing director of the Yola Electricity Distribution is what makes his nomination by the President as MD/CEO of the North-East Development Commission. He has tirelessly changed the narrative of the Yola Electricity Distribution company, during which he boosted the morale of the body staff and the entire revenue generation effort, thereby making the company work without any sort of negative deviation. The staff were fully motivated by both intrinsic and extrinsic ones.
Notwithstanding, timely confirmation of Dr. Hashidu as the MD/CEO of the NEDC, would also help in the positive advancement of the body concerned, mulling over his massive achievement in the Yola Electricity Distribution Company. Dr. Hashidu has an age advantage, which could enable him to be energetically active in serving the NEDC as he has done in his past organisation.
Musa Umar Yashi , ED Admin & Finance,
Musa Umar Yashi was born in Yashi, Alkaleri LGA, Bauchi State on 1st January 1957. He attended Gar, Duguri, Mun, Kirfi, and Darazo Primary Schools, Bauchi State. He proceeded to Government Secondary School Darazo, Bauchi State.
He was admitted to the Bauchi College of Arts and Science, Bauchi. He then gained admission into the University of Sokoto, Sokoto, Nigeria to study Political Science.
Malam Yashi did a course in MPA at ABU, Zaria. He obtained a Budget Management Fellowship Certificate and another certificate in Security Management. He also obtained a certificate in Directorate Cadre Re-orientation (OHCSF).
He attended a National Workshop on Contract Tendering Process (Due Process). He also attended Educational Planning and Management in A World with AIDS Course, Accra, Ghana.
He attended SKSDA, Civil Service College, Singapore. He then obtained a certificate in “Dealing With The Past”, Switzerland.
Dr Ismaila Nuhu Maksha, ED Operations
Maksha is an achiever and a critical All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholder in Adamawa state. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants/Chartered Management Consultant (FIMC/CMC) and holds a Master’s degree in Public Health (MPH -Health Services Management) from the University of London, s Diploma in Public Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and Bachelors of Medicine and of Surgery (MB, BS) degree from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria.
The prolific professional recently retired from the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) after over 22 years of service in different capacities as Regional Health in Emergency Specialist with the UNICEF Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Regional Office in Jordan. He provided professional support in the areas of Human Rights Based Programming in health and emergencies ensuring quality preparedness, response, and prevention of Public Health Emergencies and oversight to 16 MENA countries (Syria, Yemen, Iraq, Lebanon, Iran, Egypt, Sudan, Libya, Tunisia, State of Palestine, Jordan, Djibouti, including those in L3 emergencies with a focus on the whole of Syria operation.
