Update: In the name of Allah SWT, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful. I am pleased to announce that the ad hoc committee saddled with the responsibility of covering tuition fees of financially vulnerable students of Kaduna State University (KASU) has started paying the fees. This is directly done to the management of KASU. The Scholarship Fund was named after our family patriarch, Alhaji Bashir El-Rufai. The total number of beneficiaries will be 100 in total. I mandated the committee to ensure a minimum of 20 women, 20 individuals from the Christian and 10 members from the People With Special Abilities community. We completed Phase I before I was sworn in. In that Phase, over 200 students benefited. I would like to thank the ad hoc committee for doing an excellent job. Finally, if you or your parents have privately reached out to me, please do so again and I will personally look into it. The ad hoc committee must complete their task without any interference. Thank you.
Signed
Hon. Mohammed Bello El-Rufai
Member.
Kaduna North Federal Constituency
Chairman, Committee on Banking Regulations.
April 8, 2026.
Mahmud Yayale Ahmed (born April 15, 1952) is a distinguished Nigerian civil servant and politician renowned for his extensive contributions to the nation's public service.
Born in Shira, Azare, Bauchi State, Ahmed hails from a family rooted in Islamic scholarship; his father, Ahmadu, was both an Islamic scholar and a farmer. He commenced his education at Shira Primary School, proceeded to Government Secondary School in Azare, and later attended Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) in Zaria, Kaduna State. At ABU, he earned a bachelor's degree in Political Science in 1976 and a master's degree in Public Administration in 1981. He also holds honorary Doctorate Degrees in Law from the University of Abuja and in Letters from Bayero University.
Ahmed's career in public service began in 1977 with the Bauchi State Civil Service. By 1982, he had advanced to the position of Deputy Secretary in the state's Ministry of Animal Health and Forestry Resources. The following year, he was appointed Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Rural Development and Cooperatives. In 1986, Ahmed transitioned to the federal civil service, where he held various roles in the Ministries of Internal Affairs and Education. Notably, he was a member of the 1988 Ministerial Committee on Civil Service Reforms.
His exemplary service led to his appointment as the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation on December 18, 2000, by President Olusegun Obasanjo, who referred to him as "Mr. Civil Servant." During his tenure, Ahmed was instrumental in implementing significant reforms aimed at enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of Nigeria's civil service.
In July 2007, President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua appointed Ahmed as the Minister of Defence, a role he embraced despite lacking prior military experience. His tenure was marked by efforts to address security challenges and reform the nation's defense apparatus. In September 2008, he was elevated to the position of Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), succeeding Babagana Kingibe. Ahmed served diligently as SGF until May 2011, when he was succeeded by Anyim Pius Anyim.
Beyond his formal public service roles, Ahmed has remained active in various capacities. In August 2024, he was appointed Chairman of the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of Nigerian Federal Universities (CPCNFU), reflecting his ongoing commitment to advancing education in Nigeria. His contributions have been recognized with the national honor of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR).
Ahmed is married and blessed with seven children. He is multilingual, fluent in Hausa, Fulani, and English. In recognition of his service and dedication, he holds traditional titles, including Ajiyan Katagum from the Katagum Emirate and Akowojo of Idanre Kingdom in Ondo State.
Throughout his illustrious career, Mahmud Yayale Ahmed has exemplified dedication, humility, and a steadfast commitment to the progress and development of Nigeria's public service and governance.
BREAKING NEWS: A Nigerian woman Aisha Isah Yelwa, a petty trader based in Lapai, Niger State has returned N330 million mistakenly credited to her bank account.
Integrity 👏👏