By Abba Anwar
I read with considerable interest and curiosity the recent hues and cries from some quarters against Hon. Baffa Babba Dan’Agundi, Director-General of the National Productivity Centre.
I have seen this film before in Kano politics. When you cannot defeat a man on the ground, you write a petition against him in Abuja. When you cannot match his crowd, you match his name with scandal. When you cannot stop his mobilisation, you try to stop his appointment.
That, to me, is exactly what is happening now.
The petition, as I understand it, is blaming him of using his office funds to put into the campaign of the former Speaker, Kano State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Kabiru Alhassan Rurum, among other complaints against him.
Let me be blunt. The petition is not aimed at fighting corruption. It is aimed at discrediting him before APC and other big men at the national level. Take it or leave it.
I know Baffa. Though I have never been close to him in politics. But I have known him for years. Not from press releases. From the field. From Kano Central. From the days of struggle. He is a great mobiliser. Somebody whose power of mobilisation earns him greater respect. His appointment as DG, National Productivity Centre, makes the Centre to be more visible than before his leadership. That is what I observed with my koro-koro eyes.
Let us first separate politics from procurement. Before I go further, let me go to the technicalities of the matter at hand. Constituency projects in Nigeria are not invented by a DG. I say this because many of the petition writers either do not know, or they pretend not to know. They are appropriated by the National Assembly. They are domiciled in MDAs by law. They are executed through the Federal Government’s procurement and payment system, through contractors, through due process, through the Treasury Single Account.
A DG cannot carry cash to Rano. A DG cannot carry cash to Bunkure. A DG cannot carry cash to Kibiya.
If a classroom block is built in Kibiya, if solar street lights shine in Rano, if food items reach the poor in Bunkure, that is not a crime. That is government working. To criminalise development because it happened in the constituency of Hon. Rurum is to say Kano people should remain in darkness so that a DG can look neutral, for example.
Show me a court judgment against Dan’Agundi. Show me an indictment by EFCC. Show me an indictment by ICPC. Show me a query by the Auditor-General. To the best of my knowledge, there is none. I stand to be corrected if I am unaware of similar examples.
A petition is not a conviction. A sponsored blog post is not evidence. An accused is innocent until proven otherwise by a competent court of justice. That is the law. What the petitioners fear is not corruption. What they fear is mobilisation.
Baffa’s power of mobilization is a clear testimony of his courage, commitment, hardwork, love for his people, and unapologetic support for the ruling party, APC. This write-up, is not, in any way, interested in looking at his political opponents from his local constituency. Baffa goes beyond his primary constituency. He is now a national figure if you like. Take it or leave it.
Without glimpse to his non-political life, let me be very brief about his political engagement. He was Senior Special Assistant on Youth a during Malam Ibrahim Shekarau administration, former Legal Adviser of All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) and former Chairman of Kano Municipal local government, during Shekarau administration.
He was Special Assistant to the Governor on Garment Cottage Industries, during Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso administration, as well as a former Member of State House of Assembly from Kano Municipal. He was the Chip Whip of the House then. Then later became Majority Leader.
He was Managing Director of Kano Road Traffic Agency (KAROTA) during. Former Executive Secretary State Consumer Protection Council.
Recently he was Director, Support Groups Coordination (North-West) at APC Presidential Campaign Council of 2023. From there he became Director General, National Productivity Centre (NPC).
And currently appointed Coordinator Tinubu Support Groups, North West Zone, for 2027 general elections. A great mobilizer of sound repute. His political engagements all point to that.
I begun to accord him another greater respect when I heard Sardaunan Kano Malam Ibrahim Shekarau once said, “… in the last 36 years Baffa did not disappoint us at all – as a dedicated, disciplined and energizing politician.”
Shekarau encouraged that, “We are proud of him. He is a responsible fellow. Who was trained to work with what we call ‘patience is different from being a fool.’ That someone can step on your toes and go, without you calling his attention.”
An honest and genuine commendation from Malam Shekarau that goes to rare ones. This, to me, is encouraging and assuring.
In his capacity as DG NPC, Baffa can beat his chest for the feats achieved and still achieving under his watch. Achievements never recorded in the past.
Without any fear of mincing words one can say NPC has now become a Centre that works for youths, not just for files. It is in the pipeline that an arrangement has been completed where over 300,000 Nigerian youths set to gain training and job placement opportunities in industrial pipefitting and Artificial Intelligence, through partnerships with Sicilsaldo Contracting Nigeria Limited and Accolade Dynamics.
As 200,000 NYSC members would be onboarded onto an AI platform through Accolade Dynamics, to equip them for the global job market. Our youth going global in real time. As over 100,000 youths targeted for training in modern agriculture through the Aquaponics and Greenhouse Technology Empowerment Programme. This is greater height of patriotism ever displayed by the Centre since inception.
Under Dan’Agundi over 50,000 students were mentored through a Productivity Mentoring Programme launched across the FCT and 19 states, with Productivity Clubs established in schools. This is an excellent show of excellence. Still with Dan’Agundi as the architect.
To my knowledge, the first time at NPC a total of 10,000 kids are currently involved in the Unity Robot Project. A programme designed to foster a can-do spirit and productivity mindset in the next generation. So Baffa Babba Dan’Agundi’s scope goes beyond now. He is targeting next generation. Wow!
It is also in the pipeline a plan to create One Million jobs without depending on government funding, as announced in August 2024, through partnership model, entrepreneurship, skills development and investment in high-growth sectors.
Involved in the Landmark survey on implementing a Productivity-Linked Wage System (PLWS) in the public sector conducted to promote a performance-based culture and enhance civil service efficiency
NPC is now a Centre that works with the world.
During the 2nd National Kaizen Conference hosted on 13th February, 2025 in Abuja, in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), themed “Driving Overall Growth in Nigeria through Continuous Improvement: The Kaizen Approach” there was an agreement of strategic alliances with Japan Productivity Centre, Asian Productivity Organization, and UNIDO, which facilitated staff training abroad and adoption of global best practices.
In his unhindered infrastructural upgrades at the NPC headquarters he achieved, without government funds, leveraging corporate partnerships.
NPC becomes a Centre that rewards its workers.
He introduced retirement incentive scheme within his first four months as DG. Directors retiring from the Centre receive up to N2,000,000, while other retiring staff receive a minimum of N500,000, to ensure they leave with dignity.
He introduced transport and healthcare support for staff. As capacity building and promotion of staff due for promotion are carried out without any delay. Over 50 Deputy Directors are trained under his leadership.
To go with the global trend a Productivity Awareness Lectures were held in collaboration with the Office of the Head of Civil Service.
As NPC Core Team on Performance Management System (PMS) inaugurated on 12th March, 2026. So as to drive productivity across the Centre and tie career progression to performance, not favouritism. This is Dan’Agundi for you my reader.
NPC now becomes a Centre that touches the streets. For example 350 Renewed Hope Despatch Riders (motorcycles) distributed in Kano on 28th September, 2025, in collaboration with the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi.
He effected the distribution of Food items to 10,000 youths, in same flag-off in Kano, as fourth phase of such support.
He makes sure that there is a commitment to monthly empowerment scheme, as fulfilment of promises made during electioneering campaigns.
In his personal capacity, as a strategy for more support for Mr President and the ruling APC, he gave out over N7 million to ex-Kano Pillars players and three coaches, after the Tinubu/Abba football competition at Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano.
He graciously donated the sum of N8 million in August 2026. Out of which N6,000,000 was for CAF A Licence registration for three coaches and N2,000,000 for Kano football veterans and families of deceased members, donated on Tuesday 18th August, 2026.
As s good leader of substance who loves his people at all cost, in the coming few days he will start disbursing the total sum of Thirty Seven Million (N37m) to repentant thugs around his Dan Agundi area. This is impressive leadership.
Baffa has gotten the title of Mobiliser Beyond The Centre. Just look at the historic One Million March for Tinubu organised in Kano during 2023 presidential campaign, first of its kind in the state, from Emir’s Palace to Government House cenotaph roundabout, where Governor Abdullahi Ganduje received the support group.
As earlier mentioned he was appointed North-West Coordinator, Tinubu Support Group (TSG), appointed North-West Coordinator, City Boy Movement on 10th February, 2026, to oversee Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Jigawa, Sokoto and Kebbi States, with mandate to deepen grassroots engagement and consolidate the Movement’s objectives.
He was described by Seyi Tinubu, National Coordinator of City Boy Movement, as a dependable and result-driven political leader. Baffa led solidarity march at APC presidential campaign flag-off in Kaduna in October 2026. Proving that Tinubu’s structure was ready.
As a show of prudence also he was commended by House Committee on Labour, Employment and Productivity over successful budget defence. As he was praised publicly by Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi. Describing him as a committed, visionary, and exemplary leader worthy of emulation.
So to me Baffa Babba Dan’Agundi should just ignore the already weakened elements, who resorted to discrediting his image. This, to me, is another round of victory.
THE MOST SURPRISING ASPECT OF THIS ARGUMENT IS, THE REAL BRAINS BEHIND IT ARE PEOPLE WITH ‘HOLIER-THAN-THOU’ MINDSET.
Anwar writes from Kano
Saturday, 7th November, 2026
