The fact that Taraba State Deputy Governor Alhaji Aminu Alkali is still functioning without a single appointed aide more than two years after taking office has alarmed political analysts and state government insiders.
Alkali’s office is noticeably empty, lacking even a Chief Press Secretary, a crucial position for overseeing contacts with the public and journalists, whereas Governor Agbu Kefas’ office is fully staffed with advisers, personal aides, and media handlers.
The Daily Post was informed by sources in Government House in Jalingo that the deputy governor’s capacity to carry out his duties has been “severely limited” due to the lack of personnel.
One top official stated, “I think the deputy governor’s current health condition could have been better managed if he had the necessary aides.”
“That he doesn’t even have a press secretary to handle media matters more than two years into his tenure is shocking.”
The governor should step in to bring order back to the deputy governor’s office, the source said, calling the situation “administratively abnormal.”
According to the findings, Alhaji Alkali had previously presented a list of suggested aides and received approval for their hiring; however, influential members of the government are said to have halted the process.
For reasons that have not yet been disclosed to the public, these political players have reportedly refused to issue appointment letters, so halting the hiring process.
Another government source stated that “this is no longer just a bureaucratic delay; it’s becoming a matter of human dignity and administrative efficiency.”
“Governor Kefas must intervene immediately to give the deputy governor the authority to formally appoint and collaborate with his staff. It will lessen his workload and get his office back up and running.
Some have suggested that the protracted staffing stalemate is a reflection of broader political disagreements between the governor’s camp and the deputy’s supporters, which has fueled rumors of internal power struggles inside the Taraba State Government.
The deputy governor deserves the institutional assistance required to carry out his constitutional duties, according to critics, who have urged Governor Agbu Kefas to address the matter immediately.
According to a former commissioner with knowledge of the situation, “the governor must act quickly to resolve this matter.”
“The deputy governor’s office is not a ceremonial addition; it is an essential component of governance.”
The governor’s office had not yet provided an official statement on the accusations or the causes of the ongoing hold-up in the deputy governor’s aide selection process.
