Aminu Saleh (1933-2015)

Widely thought of as an astute public servant, Malam Aminu had an illustrious career at the local, state and federal levels that spanned virtually all of Nigeria’s post-independence period. He belonged to a class of Nigerians whose patriotism and commitment to national development is unquestionable. He was always frank and straightforward on matters of good […]

Widely thought of as an astute public servant, Malam Aminu had an illustrious career at the local, state and federal levels that spanned virtually all of Nigeria’s post-independence period. He belonged to a class of Nigerians whose patriotism and commitment to national development is unquestionable. He was always frank and straightforward on matters of good governance and leadership.
The Wamban Katagum, the traditional title he held until his demise, was a thoroughbred bureaucrat whose memoranda were considered in civil service circles to be scholarly and his stint in the federal civil service enriched governance. He was dogged in his dedication to the pursuit of excellence in virtually everything he did in and out of service.
Saleh’s death is a great loss to not only his immediate and extended families, Katagum Emirate and Bauchi State, but to the entire nation, considering his immense contributions to Nigeria’s socio-political and economic development over several decades. 
Born in 1933 in Azare, capital of Katagum local government area, Malam Aminu attended Azare Elementary School from 1942 to 1944 from where he proceeded to Bauchi Middle School between 1944 and 1949. He joined the services of Katagum Native Authority upon graduation and was admitted in 1950 into Clerical Training College, Zaria. After graduation as a clerk a year later, he proceeded to the Institute of Administration of Ahmadu Bello University where he obtained a diploma in accounting in 1957. He was promoted to treasurer of Katagum Native Authority, a position he held for five years before transferring his services to the federal government in Lagos in 1962.
He enrolled for extra-mural evening degree programme at the University of Lagos from 1963 to 1967, and did a post-graduate course in management at the University of Wisconsin, USA.
His public service covered the first, second and botched third republics as well as all the military regimes in between. He worked with some of Nigeria’s best public servants and, according to him, learnt a lot from these all-time greats in terms of administration and economic management.
The Wambai served at different periods as the deputy permanent secretary in the federal ministries of finance, agriculture and communications, and permanent secretary in the ministries of defence, communication and trade.
After he retired from the federal civil service, he was appointed Minister of Industries and later of Finance, capping a string of successful career in public service with his appointment as Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Head of the Federal Civil Service during the regime of late General Sani Abacha between 1993 and 1997.
Though retired from active service, Aminu Saleh devoted his time to other interests, religion and community service. He became chairman of the National Qur’anic Recitation Committee and also served as chairman of the Bauchi State Elders Advisory Committee, as well as chairman of Bauchi State Constitution Review Committee.
He was also chairman of the Committee for the Creation of Katagum State and chairman of the Committee on the Creation of Katagum State as well as chairman of the Committee on Kafin Zaki Dam.
The former SGF, who was also a member of the National Honours and Merit Award Committee, was awarded the Grand Commander of Nigerian Students by National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and honoured with a merit award by the National Union of Bauchi State Students (NUBASS).
Malam Aminu, recipient also of many other awards, was conferred with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree by the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, and was conferred with Nigeria’s second highest honour, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) by former head of state General Abdulsalami Abubakar in 1998.
With a proud legacy of exceptional patriotism and excellence in public conduct, Malam Aminu was a simple but an effective leader. By his death, the country-and his now bereaved family-will certainly miss his discrete but wise counsel.