Gombe State Governor, Inuwa Yahaya, has sworn in 19 newly appointed permanent secretaries, describing the appointments as the largest single appointment of permanent secretaries in the history of the state.
The ceremony, held in Gombe on Thursday, brings to 55 the number of permanent secretaries appointed by the Yahaya administration since it assumed office about seven and a half years ago.
Yahaya said the appointments were part of efforts to strengthen the state civil service and reposition it as the engine of effective governance.
Speaking at the ceremony, the governor said, “We are reaffirming our belief that a strong civil service is highly critical to the success of any government.”
He described civil servants as custodians of institutional knowledge and key players in translating government policies into tangible benefits for citizens.
According to him, the civil service provides continuity in governance by preserving institutional experience despite changes in political leadership.
Yahaya said his administration had prioritised reforms aimed at improving the efficiency and welfare of workers.
Among the measures, he listed the establishment of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms, biometric attendance to address ghost workers and absenteeism, implementation of the minimum wage for state and local government workers, recruitment of 1,000 teachers and construction of a new secretariat complex.
The governor also disclosed that the administration had paid more than N33bn in pension and gratuity obligations, representing about 70 per cent of liabilities inherited from the previous government.
He said another round of gratuity payments would begin before the end of September.
“By the end of September, as I earlier promised, we will embark on another phase of gratuity payment in our efforts to leave zero gratuity obligation by the time we leave office in May 2027, inshaa-Allah,” he said.
Yahaya explained that the latest appointments followed the creation of new ministries and the restructuring of the state government, which required additional senior management personnel.
He said the selection process involved an assessment of the civil service structure, after which senior directors from the state’s 11 local government areas were shortlisted.
The candidates’ qualifications and service records were reviewed, while written examinations were conducted to assess their general knowledge and information and communication technology competencies.
The governor said the process was designed to promote merit, fairness and equitable representation.
“This approach underscores our commitment to meritocracy and balance, thereby ensuring that these appointments reflect competence, fairness, equity and justice,” he said.
He added that all 11 local government areas were represented among the new permanent secretaries as part of efforts to promote inclusion and unity.
Yahaya further disclosed that two of the appointees came from outside the state civil service, with one joining from the Federal Service and another from academia.
He said their appointments would bring additional national experience, institutional links and research-driven perspectives to the state’s administration.
The governor urged the new permanent secretaries to regard their appointments as a public trust and to uphold professionalism, integrity and accountability.
“To the newly appointed Permanent Secretaries, you are the ambassadors of the civil service and of your respective communities. Your appointment is not a personal achievement alone; it is a trust reposed in you by the people of Gombe State,” he said.
Yahaya warned that the government would not tolerate corruption, indiscipline or dishonest conduct in the public service.
“I charge you to approach your duties with the fear of God. Integrity and honesty should be your watchwords, as our administration will not tolerate indiscipline, dishonest conduct, or any form of corruption,” he said.
He also encouraged the appointees to embrace innovation and technology to improve efficiency and service delivery in their respective ministries.
Yahaya assured civil servants that his administration would continue to support capacity development and improve their working conditions.
“Our vision is to bequeath to Gombe State a civil service that is competent, result-oriented, and capable of meeting our current realities and future aspirations,” he said.
The governor congratulated the new permanent secretaries and expressed confidence that they would contribute to effective governance and the development of the state.
