Toba Owojaiye reporting
President Bola Tinubu has appointed Muhammad Sani Dattijo as one of the deputy governors for a five-year term, pending confirmation by the senate.
Muhammad brings a wealth of experience as a seasoned development economist with more than two decades of expertise in policy formulation, public finance, and project implementation. Notably, he ran as the APC candidate for the Kaduna Central Senatorial position in the 2023 elections.
Muhammad has held prominent roles throughout his career, including serving as a Policy Adviser at the Executive Office of the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, in New York. In this capacity, he played a pivotal role in shaping the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Additionally, he is a member of the World Bank’s expert Advisory Council on citizen engagement.
His contributions extend to Kaduna State, where he served as the Commissioner of Planning and Budget for over five years. During this tenure, he was responsible for crafting development policies, formulating the state’s fiscal strategy, and overseeing the implementation and monitoring of the state budget, which amounted to approximately $700 million annually. Subsequently, Muhammad assumed the role of Chief of Staff to the State Governor, where he led the design and execution of government policies across all sectors.
Furthermore, Muhammad chaired the Infrastructure Council, overseeing a historic expansion of infrastructure in the state and managing economic and social infrastructure projects across its 23 Local Governments. His leadership facilitated the creation of essential policy documents and plans, including the State Development Plan, Infrastructural Master Plan, Industrial Policy, and SDGs report, contributing significantly to Kaduna State’s growth and development.