Part of Balaraba Ibrahim’s job description is organising state sponsored mass-weddings for divorced
ABUJA, Aug 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Governor Bala Mohammed in Nigeria’s Bauchi state has sent tongues wagging after appointing an aide for divorcees.
There was public derision after an appointment letter confirming Balaraba Ibrahim as “Special Assistant on Women Affairs (Divorced)”.
In her new role, Balaraba, a divorcee herself, is expected to organise state sponsored mass-weddings for divorced women and also support their business ideas.
And it’s not a responsibility she is new to, Balaraba has been head of the association of divorced women in Bauchi state where she has organised meetings and programmes for them.
The governor’s spokesman, Mukhtar Gidado, said that the appointment was copied from neighbouring Kano state where there is a similar role.
“The idea is for the government to assist them in arranging marriages,” he said.
Divorce rates are high in northern Nigeria, where a husband only has to write “I divorce you”, three times on paper to end a marriage.
Observers wait to see if the Bauchi state governor also follows the example of his colleague in Kano by appointing aides for graveyard and streetlight matters.
In 2017 a governor in the eastern state of Imo created the ministry of happiness and purpose fulfilment and appointed his sister to the role. — NNN-AGENCIES