The Borno State government on Thursday denied an online media report on the alleged nomination of Mrs Asabe Kwambura, the principal of Government Secondary School (GSS) Chibok, as a commissioner by Governor Kashim Shettima.

Malam Isa Gusau, the Special Adviser on Communications Strategy to Shettima, in a statement in Maiduguri, described the report as “a mischievous joke”.

“In the last one week, we have noticed a very strange information being circulated by some online media platforms claiming that Shettima had nominated Mrs Asabe Kwambura, the Principal of GSS, Chibok for the post of the Commissioner of Education.

“We completely ignored the report for what it was, a mischievous joke and cheap blackmail that did not deserve any response, as it was mainly ‘trending’ on the social media,” he said.

Gusau lamented that it was sad that some media organizations had lifted the report without verifying the source.

“However, we noticed, and most unfortunately, that in recent days, some otherwise respected F.M stations reported such a joke without even making the slightest attempt to cross check with officials in Borno, or at least, find out from journalists or media houses that have correspondents resident in the state ,who are in position to have accurate information about the activities of the state.

“To start with, neither a president nor a governor nominates anyone as Minister or Commissioner for a particular ministry.”

“The usual practice is to nominate someone as Minister or Commissioner designate for screening by lawmakers, and it is only after nominees are approved by lawmakers and administered oaths of offices and allegiance, that they are allocated Ministries”.

“In Government procedures across Nigeria, only Special Advisers, Heads of Federal or State Government establishments, commissioners in commissions and certain chief executives, are announced by a President or Governor, stating their specific responsibilities at the time of their nomination for screening by lawmakers, or in some cases, they are out-rightly sworn in without lawmakers’ screening, depending on constitutional requirements.

“Therefore, to say that Governor Kashim Shettima has nominated Mrs Kwambura as Commissioner for Education, and that she was to undergo screening at the Borno State House of Assembly, simply indicates crass ignorance on government procedures, and which goes to confirm that the story was indeed nothing more than a joke that should only be told during comedy shows to entertain audience,” he said.