Alhaji Aliyu Yelwa, the pioneer Chairman of Fiscal Responsibility Commission, FRC, reportedly died on Monday in his hometown of Yauri in Kebbi State at the age of 78.
A statement released in Abuja on Tuesday and signed by FRC’s Acting Chairman, Mr Victor Muruako, read: “The FRC regrets to announce the death of its pioneer Chairman, Alhaji Aliyu Yelwa, OON, at the age of 78.”
It added that Yelwa had already been buried in accordance with Islamic rites, sayng that the third-day Islamic prayer would hold on Wednesday.
It was gathered that a condolence register had been opened at the Commission Headquarters, Asokoro, Abuja.
The late Yelwa was appointed Chairman of FRC in 2008 and served out his tenure in December 2013.
Prior to his service in the FRC, the deceased had served as Federal Cabinet Minister, Water Resources and Rural Development from 1995 to 1998.
Born on August 16, 1936, Yelwa started primary education in 1946 at Central Elementary Yelwa-Yauri and attended Government College (Barewa College) Zaria between 1953 and 1958.
He proceeded to College of Administration, Achimota, Ghana in 1960, where he bagged the Intermediate ACCA in 1961 and Scottish College of Commerce/Sprathcylve University in Glasgow from 1962 to 1965.
The late pioneer FRC chairman started his working career at the Ministry of Finance of Northern Nigeria in 1966 and joined Ahmadu Bello University Zaria as Senior Accountant in 1967.
He left ABU in 1975 as Acting Bursar to serve as Commissioner for Economic Development of North Western State, the position he held until 1977 when a cabinet reshuffle saw him become Commissioner of Finance, Economic Development Establishment and Service Matters (1977-1979).
Within the period, he functioned as Sokoto State Deputy Chairman, State Executive Council (1977 to 1979).
He also served as Executive Director, Management and Staff Services, Central Bank of Nigeria from 1979 to 1988.
The deceased served on many boards at both federal and state levels during his life time.