Governor Yusuf’s CPS reacts to deployment of 44 social media activists to MDAs
By Aminu Garko/Kano
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, has defended the appointment and deployment of 44 social media activists to Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government in the state, saying they were appointed to complement the duties of Directors of Public Enlightenment and media officers at the MDAs.
Speaking to members of Correspondents’ Chapel, Nigeria Union OF Journalists (NUJ) who drew his attention to the feelers from media practitioners over the appointment, Bature said the social media activists would not be recognized as journalists.
The CPS said the social media activists are employed to help propagate the activities, policies, programmes and projects of the government to the social media domain, as reported by professional journalists.
He further cleared the air, insisting that their responsibilities will never class with professional duties of practicing journalists and media officers in the MDAs.
Bature who spoke through a telephone conversation re-assured that the state govenement hold working journalists in the state to high esteem, and would not create policies that would be tantamount of denting the image of their profession.
According to him, social media activists are not seen as professional journalists, but social media influencers, who are saddled with the responsibilities of downloading stories written by professional journalists and press releases by media officers into the internet for wider coverage of government activities, programmes, projects and policies.
He added that, already, the state government plans have set out modalities for training and retraining of the social media activists to enable them get adequate knowledge of laws and conventions guiding the free flow of information.
It could be recalled that Governor Yusuf, at the early hours of Saturday, approved the appointment of 44 social media activists as Senior Special Reporters, Senior Reporters to various Ministries, departments and agencies.
According to a Statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the appointments was made in Governor Yusuf’s efforts to provide access to information on policies, programmes and activities of his administration.
The statement added that: “Kano State Governor Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf has approved the appointment and subsequent deployment of 44 Social Media Activists to serve as Senior Special Reporters (SSRs) and Special Reporters (SRs) to various MDAs.”
Those appointed are as follows: Abba Zizu, Senior Special Reporter, Agriculture; Isma’il Alkassim, Special Reporter, Agriculture; Musa Garba (Jikan Oga), Senior Special Reporter, Budget and Planning; Bilal Musa Bakin Ruwa, Special Reporter , Budget and Planning;Auwal Dan-Ayagi, Senior Special Reporter, Commerce and Industry; Usman Abubakar Haske, Special Reporter , Commerce and Industry.
Auwalu Yau Yusuf, Senior Special Reporter , Culture and Tourism; Kamal I.G Kawaji, Special Reporter , Culture and Tourism ; Comrd Hayatu Tanimu, Senior Special Reporter , Education; Usman Ibrahim, Special Reporter , Education; Mahmud Ali Yakasai, Senior Special Reporter, Environment; Rahma Abdullahi, Special Reporter, Environment
Sani Umar, Senior Special Reporter , Finace; Abdulrahman Gama, Special Reporter, Finance; Aliyu Kwankwason Dorayi, Senior Special Reporter , Health; Zainab Muhammad, Special Reporter , Health; Nuhu Dambazau, Senior Special Reporter , Higher Education ;Zainab Musa Aujara, Special Reporter , Higher Education; Yakubu Umar , Senior Special Reporter, Information; Ibrahim Yusha’u, Special Reporter , Information.
Amir Abdullahi Kima, Senior Special Reporter , Justice; Mahmud Mahmud Dala, Special Reporter , Justice; Mustapha R. Mahmud, Senior Special Reporter , Land and Physical Planning; Nanu Kankarofi, Special Reporter , Land and Physical Planning; Khatimu Kul-Kul, Senior Special Reporter , Local Government; Aisha Auwal, Special Reporter , Local Government;Kamal Yakasai, Senior Special Reporter , Project Monitoring
Ibrahim M. Alliya, Special Reporter, Project Monitoring;Sunusi Ma’azu, Senior Special Reporter , Religious Affairs; Bashir Aliyu, Special Reporter , Religious Affairs;Shafa’atu Ahmad (Londonbe), Senior Special Reporter , Rural Development; Kabiru Nadabo Mai Rice, Special Reporter , Rural Development; Jameelat Meemi Koki, Senior Special Reporter, Special Duties;Muhammad Wasilu Kawo, Special Reporter , Special Duties
Nasiru Kassim Fulatan, Senior Special Reporter, Science and Technology; Kamila Muhammad Siba,
Special Reporter , Science and Technology; Ibrahim Rabi’u, Senior Special Reporter , Transportation; Yasir Ibrahim (Monday), Special Reporter, Transportation;Auwalu Sani Rogo, Senior Special Reporter, Water Resources
Abu Sufyan Doguwa, Special Reporter, Water Resources; Fauziyya Isyaku, Senior Special Reporter , Women Affairs; Nabeel Sunusi, Special Reporter , Women Affairs; Gambo Galadanci, Senior Special Reporter, Works and Housing; Khamis B. Ayagi, Special Reporter, Works and Housing.
The appointees are directed to collect their letters of appointment and report to their respective agencies of assignment immediately.
