Nigerian politician Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, born 5 October 1958, has been the governor of Bauchi State since 2019.
He served as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory from 2010 to 2015 and as Senator for Bauchi South from 2007 to 2010. He is a senior member of the Peoples Democratic Party, the main opposition party.
He began his public service career as an administrative officer in the Federal Ministry of Interior, where he worked until 1994, when he was appointed Chief Administrative Officer of the Presidential Palace. Bala Mohammed rose rapidly through the ranks of the civil service.
File
- Name: Bala Mohammed
- Date of birth: October 5, 1958
- Occupation: Governor
- Net worth: $10 million
- Relationship: Married to Hajiya Aisha Bala Mohammed
Early life
He was born on 5 October 1958, into a Fulani family in Duguri town, Alkaleri local government area, Bauchi state.
He started school in 1965 at Duguri Primary School in Bauchi, graduating in 1971 with a First Certificate. From 1972 to 1976, he attended Bauchi Public School, where he obtained his WAEC.
In 1979, he received a certificate of advanced standing from the North Eastern College of Arts and Sciences. He graduated from the University of Maiduguri with a Bachelor of Arts degree.
His political godfather, Governor Isa Yuguda, was said to have lost the election after Yuguda married President Umaru Yar’Adua’s daughter and defected to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). After the death of Umaru Yar’Adua, Mohammed joined the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and became close to President Goodluck Jonathan.
Bala Mohammed contested and won the election to serve the people of the Southern Senatorial District of Bauchi State as a senator in 2007 on the ticket of the All Nigeria People’s Party. [ANPP]From 2007 to 2010, he served as a senator.
During his time in the Senate, he became one of Nigeria’s most outspoken lawmakers. Bala Mohammed served on eight committees, notably as secretary of the Northern Senators’ Forum and vice-chairman of the Senate Aviation Committee. The committees included communications, finance, public accounting, business ethics, environment, labour and productivity.
Senator Bala Mohammed was sworn in as Governor of Bauchi State on 29 May 2019, under the banner of the Peoples Democratic Party, after defeating incumbent Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar by a margin of 515,313 votes to 500,625.
On January 20, 2020, the Supreme Court declared victory. Bala Mohammed’s troubles with Nigeria’s anti-corruption agencies after he was elected governor of Bauchi state were linked to the state’s outgoing governor, Mohammed Abubakar.
Awards and nominations
Nigerian News, a UK-based media organisation, named him Governor of the Year for Infrastructure in 2021.
Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) Honorary Scholarship 2021
Nigerian Christian Pilgrimage Commission 2021 Best Pilgrimage Governor North East Region 2013 United Nations Public Service Delivery Excellence Award
Personal life
He is married to Hajiya Aisha Bala Mohammed and has two children.
Net worth
According to some online sources, Bala Mohammed’s net worth is said to be around $20 million.
Social media
- Twitter: @SenBalaMohammed
