TheCable

Muhammad Badaru, governor of Jigawa, says Muhammed Babandede, former comptroller-general of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), is a “worthy ambassador” of the state.

Badaru said this at the weekend at a meeting with the former Immigration CG.

Babandede retired on September 10, as the 16th comptroller-general after spending 36 years in service.

Speaking when he received the former CG, Badaru said the state is proud of former comptroller-general’s efforts while in service.

“We have to thank you very much, because we had a worthy ambassador out there,” the governor said.

“I have seen and I know that the Nigeria Immigration Service never had it so well. It is not me that said it, but the minister (minister of interior, Rauf Aregbesola). It was a testimony for those of us who were there at the pulling-out ceremony.

“So, Jigawa sons and daughters will always be proud of you for being a good ambassador. And I’m sure that you are not tired.

“The time will come when we will need your service. I am very sure of that. The same passion that you have for the development of the country and the state will be demonstrated again and again.

“I congratulate you for a very wonderful exit from civil service and a toast to a promising new beginning because the records are there.”

Speaking on his administration’s efforts, Badaru said his commitment to setting priorities earned him the name, “calculator governor”.

“People refuse to understand the reason people call me calculator. It is just value for money, that is, getting your priorities right at the right cost,” he said.

“It is for a leader to judge between building a luxury house for himself and to provide basic services for the benefit of the people. You have to weigh options.
For every expenditure, how many lives will be touched? That is the meaning of what we do, myself and Babandede.”

In his remarks, Babandede thanked the governor for the “huge honour” showed to him during his years in service.

“We have come to thank you for your support when I was the CG and even when I was leaving the service. You were the first person to arrive the pulling-out ceremony. The programme was scheduled for 10am, but before 9am, you were already in your seat. That is a huge honour. If you were not there, the ceremony would have been different, but when my own governor is on the seat, and my own emir was also on the seat, then there was nothing left,” he said.

“I cannot enter Hadejia or visit Ringim without visiting the governor; that is the protocol. That is why I have come here.”