By Ademuyiwa Balikis
Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has made history by appointing a Chinese national, Mr. Li Zhensheng, as Economic Adviser to the state government, the first time in Nigeria that a foreign national has been formally appointed to a Special Adviser level position under the constitution.
The appointment was announced on Friday during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Bauchi State Government and the China Global Promotion Cooperation Research Centre, which Mr. Li chairs.
Governor Mohammed explained that the partnership aims to position Bauchi as a hub for international cooperation and attract investments across key sectors, including agriculture, education, healthcare, manufacturing, mining, oil and gas, and trade. As part of the agreement, Bauchi will establish a representative office in China to oversee the execution of projects and ensure timely delivery.
Mr Li pledged to mobilise global resources to drive Bauchi’s economic transformation, focusing on sustainable growth, modern infrastructure, and improved living standards for residents. While his detailed professional biography has not been made public, he is known for leading the China Global Promotion Cooperation Research Centre and facilitating investment partnerships with Nigerian states.
Legal experts note that the appointment is backed by Section 196 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which allows a governor to appoint any person as a Special Adviser, without a citizenship requirement, provided the appointee declares assets, takes the Oath of Allegiance, and obtains the necessary work authorisation from immigration authorities.
Though Nigerian governors have previously engaged foreign consultants and included global experts in advisory councils, this marks the first recorded instance of a foreign national being appointed directly to a Special Adviser level role in a state government, a precedent that has already sparked public debate on transparency, security clearance, and the expected outcomes of such a high profile international partnership.
