Honourable Minister FCT

The Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Distinguished Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed fits the bill of a born leader with requisite will power and vision to better the lots of humanity. For him, there is so much to do in his present calling as the helmsman of the Federal Capital. Therefore, his determination and zeal are unrivalled as he is committed to making a profound impact within the time left for him.

Upon his assumption of duty as the FCT Minister on April 8, 2010, Distinguished Senator Bala Mohammed immediately hit the ground running in his bid to achieve results within the shortest time possible. He did so believing that the first step in any journey tells the distance that will be covered at the end.

The FCT Minister is a steely man of his own conviction, a leader with few words and robust action. So far, in his actions and programmes, he has been largely guided by the words of the American Republican statesman and 26th President of the US (1901-1909), Theodore Roosevelt that if you want to go far, you should speak softly and act decisively.

To succeed as FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed has been conscious of the fact that he must be dispassionate and ever busy. In doing so as a practical leader given to example rather than precepts, he does not look at faces so as to avoid succumbing to praise singing or shylock emotions. Rather, he has stuck to action and compassion primed on legality and humanity.

Since he was appointed Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in fortuitous circumstances, Senator Bala Mohammed has been on the front burner as a news maker and pragmatic leader. That his steadily rising profile has attracted variegated media reportage including deserved commendation is no surprise.

Distinguished Senator Bala Mohammed believes that good works are what the FCT residents deserve and are craving, hence he has been up and doing since assumption of office. He is very courageous and firm. A leader who detests praise singing, Senator Bala Mohammed knows that his legacy will be determined not by how much praise he receives while in the saddle but the quantum of work he did. In other words, what he does will go a long way to determining the attitude of the rest of the people towards him. Realizing that the first step matters, he has remained strong, focused and uncompromised.

Distinguished Senator Bala Mohammed, an illustrious Nigerian, was born on 5th October, 1958 at Duguri Town in Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State. He attended Duguri Primary School, Bauchi from 1965 to 1971 where he secured his First School Leaving Certificate. After that he was admitted into the Government Secondary School Bauchi from 1972 to 1976 where he passed his WASCE. From there she proceeded to North – East College of Art and Science between and 1977 and 1979 for his Advanced Level Certificate. From there he gained admission to the University of Maiduguri in 1979 and graduated in 1982 with BA Degree in English Language.

Senator Bala Mohammed attended the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) in1988 for a general management course. In 1997, he attended a capacity building training in Lagos and was given a certificate of the Institute of Purchase & Supplies.

Concerning work experience, he began his career as a journalist and rose to the position of News Editor of the Mirage Newspaper, Jos between 1982 and 1983.

He also had a stint as a News Reporter with the News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN).

From there he moved over to the Democrat Newspaper where he worked as the newspaper’s State Editor in charge of Benue from 1983 to 1984.

In 1984, he left his promising journalism career for civil service when he got employed as an Administrative Officer under the Federal Ministry of Internal

Affairs, Abuja. In 1994, he was promoted and redeployed as Principal Administrative Officer in the Cabinet Secretariat of the Presidency.

He was Chief Supplies Officer, Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals from 1995 to 1997. He rose to the position of Assistant Director in the Federal Ministry of Power and Steel in 1997. He held the position until 1999 when he was promoted Deputy Director/SA to the Hon Minister, Federal ministry of transport. He successfully discharged his functions in that capacity from 1999 to 2003.

Following his dint of hard work and innovation, Senator Bala Mohammed was promoted as Director of Administration, Nigerian Railway Corporations in 2003. Later in September that year, he became Special Assistant to the Minister of Aviation. In January, he became Director of Administration and Supplies, Nigerian Meteorological Agency.

Bala Mohammed was elected as a Distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on April 21, 2007 to represent the good people of Bauchi South Senatorial District. He occupied the respected seat in the hallowed chambers of the National Assembly until his appointment as the Hon Minister of Federal Capital Territory in April 2010.

The various duties he performed in the course of his successful civil service career include the following: Assistant Secretary (1984 – 1986); Assistant Secretary I – (1987 – 1989); Senior Business Officer - (1989 – 1992); Principal Business Officer – (1992 – 1994); Assistant Chief Business Officer - (1994 – 1995) and Chief Supplies Officer – (1995 – 1997).

Others are Assistant Director, (1997 – 1999); Deputy Director/Special Assistant, (1999 – 2003); Director of Administration, (2003 – September 2003); Special Assistant to the Hon Minister of Aviation, (2003 – Jan. 2004); and Director of Administration and Supplies; (September 2003).

Alhaji Bala Mohammed’s main duties which he performed during the period, 1982 – 2003, include working as a versatile journalist and team member to facilitate the establishment of the Mirage Newspaper, Jos; setting of the Democrat Newspaper Office at Makurdi, Benue State; Serving as Secretary, National Advisory Committee of Nigerian citizenship; Secretary, Inter-Ministerial Committee on National Day Celebrations and Secretary, National Advisory Council on Religious Affairs.

He also performed duties as the Personal Assistant (PA) to the Hon. minister of Internal Affairs and Personal Assistant to the Director – General, Cabinet Secretariat, the Presidency; he helped in setting up of Supplies Division Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals; Head of Division; Special Assistant to the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Power and Steel and Secretary Ministerial Tenders Board, Federal Ministry of Power and Steel.

Some ad-hoc duties Alhaji Bala Mohammed performed during the period 1984 to 2006 include the following: Secretary, Administrative Panel on the Re-organisation of the Nigerian Civil Defence Corps; (1985); Secretary, Panel of Inquiry into the circumstances leading to the illegal acquisition of Nigerian citizens matter, (1988); Secretary, Committee on the formulation of illegal and administrative guidelines on Nigerian citizens matters; (1988); Secretary, Department Committee on implementation of Civil Services reforms, (1988) and Secretary, Ministerial Committee on Security fire and theft, Federal Ministry of Internal Affairs, Abuja (1989).

Others include: Secretary, Ministerial Committee on the assessment and repairs of un-serviceable vehicles, (1989); Secretary Board of Survey, (1990 – 1991); Secretary, Task Force on the rehabilitation of old prisons in Nigeria (May 1993); Secretary, Special Assignment Committee, (Project Implementation Committee, Federal Ministry of Internal Affairs, (1993-1994); Member, committee on the writing of the blueprint for Family Support Programme (FSP), (May 1994); Secretary, Organizing Committee for the launching of the Family Support Trust Fund (FSTF), the Presidency, (1994-Nov. 94) and Member representing the Presidency to the China on the rehabilitation of Nigerian Railways.

Others include: Chairman, Compilation of Capital Assets, Ministry of Solid Minerals Development; Member, committee on annual report, Ministry of Solid Minerals Development; Member, committee on writing of Ministry’s brochure, Ministry of Solid mineral development; Member, Panel on Cabotage Laws, Federal Ministry of Transport; Member, presidential committee on charges, tariffs and duties in the marine industry; Member, Committee on Inland Container Terminals; Member, Ministerial Delegation to Russia, UK, Liberia, Brazil and Turkey on Nigeria’s nominee for Secretary General, International Maritime Organisation (IMO); Member, International Maritime Organisation Congress;

Member, Committee on the Establishment of Nigeria’s flag carrier – Virgin Nigeria Limited; Member, Recruitment Committee of Nigerian Meteorological Agency; Member, Interim Board for the Repositioning of SAHCOL; Chairman, Staff Audit and Nominal roll of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency; Chairman, Committee on the Implementation of the new Pension Scheme for NIMET; Chairman, Sub-committee on Personnel for the Implementation of NIMET reform programme; Member, NIMET Reform Implementation Committee and Chairman Committee on NIMET’s salary structure, conditions of services and scheme of service.

Alhaji Bala Mohammed has also attended several seminars and workshops. In this direction, he has Certificate of attendance, National Seminar on personnel Budget Implementation, at Lokoja and Certificate of attendance, National Seminar on Budget Implementation Programme at Kaduna. During his glorious tenure as a member of the Nigerian Senate, he served as the Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation; Secretary, Northern Senators Forum; Member, Senate Committee on Communication; Member, Senate Committee on Finance; Member, Senate Committee on Public Accounts; Member, Senate Committee on Rules & Business; Member, Senate Committee on Environment; Member Senate Committee on Labour & Productivity and Member, Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Jos crisis.

His hobbies include reading, writing and strolling.

Senator Bala Mohammed’s appointment as the Hon Minister of FCT by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is the fitting reward for hardwork, excellence, patriotism, selflessness and commitment to the unity of the Nigerian nation. It is the highpoint of his eventful career in civil and public service.