Gombe swears in 19 Permanent Secretaries

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—Yahaya pledges zero gratuity by May 2027

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By Ben Ngwakwe, Gombe

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GOMBE — Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State has sworn in 19 newly appointed Permanent Secretaries, describing the exercise as the largest single appointment of Permanent Secretaries in the history of the state.

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Yahaya, who spoke during the swearing-in ceremony at the International Conference Centre, Gombe, on Thursday, said the appointments had brought to 55 the number of Permanent Secretaries appointed by his administration in the last seven and a half years.

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He said the appointments were part of his administration’s efforts to reform, strengthen and reposition the state civil service for improved service delivery.

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The governor also said the All Progressives Congress, APC, had substantial achievements to present to the electorate, insisting that his administration had implemented programmes and projects that could be defended before the people.

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According to him, the civil service remains the engine room of government and the institution through which public policies and development programmes are translated into tangible benefits for citizens.

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“The occasion of the swearing-in of these nineteen newly appointed Permanent Secretaries is significant, being the largest single appointment of Permanent Secretaries ever made in the history of Gombe State.

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“This brings to a total of 55 Permanent Secretaries appointed by this administration in the last seven and a half years,” he said.

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Yahaya said a competent, motivated and disciplined civil service was indispensable to the success of any government.

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He listed some of the reforms introduced by his administration to include the establishment of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms, biometric attendance systems to tackle ghost workers and absenteeism, implementation of the minimum wage for state and local government workers, and recruitment of 1,000 teachers to address manpower shortages in public schools.

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The governor also disclosed that his administration was constructing a modern state secretariat complex to provide a more conducive working environment for civil servants.

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On pension obligations, Yahaya said the government had paid more than N33 billion in pension and gratuity liabilities, about 70 per cent of which he said were inherited from previous administrations.

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He announced that another phase of gratuity payment would commence before the end of September, as part of efforts to clear outstanding obligations before the expiration of his tenure in May 2027.

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“We are determined to leave behind a legacy of a reformed and efficient civil service, while also working towards ensuring zero gratuity obligations by the time we leave office,” he said.

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Yahaya said the appointment of the new Permanent Secretaries became necessary following the creation of new ministries and restructuring of government to strengthen senior management capacity and improve service delivery.

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He explained that the selection process involved an assessment of the civil service structure to identify gaps and appoint qualified officers capable of filling them.

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According to him, senior directors from the state’s 11 local government areas were shortlisted to ensure equitable geographical representation, while their qualifications and service records were reviewed.

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He added that written examinations were conducted to assess the candidates’ general knowledge and Information and Communication Technology, ICT, competencies.

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“This approach underscores our commitment to meritocracy, fairness, equity and justice,” Yahaya said.

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The governor noted that all 11 local government areas were represented in the appointments, describing the decision as a demonstration of his administration’s commitment to inclusivity and unity.

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He added that two of the Permanent Secretaries were appointed from outside the conventional state civil service structure — one from the Federal Civil Service and another from academia.

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Yahaya said the appointments were intended to combine administrative experience, institutional linkages and research-driven perspectives in strengthening the state’s governance structure.

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Addressing the new Permanent Secretaries, the governor reminded them that their appointments constituted a public trust requiring integrity, accountability and dedication.

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“You are not just administrators; you are custodians of the people’s trust and architects of our collective future.

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“Your appointment is not a personal achievement alone; it is a trust reposed in you by the people of Gombe State. You must carry this responsibility with honour and integrity,” he said.

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Yahaya, who said his administration had entered its final year, stated that the government would focus on consolidating its achievements and building institutions capable of sustaining development beyond its tenure.

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He charged the new Permanent Secretaries and other senior civil servants to maintain professionalism, discipline and commitment to public service.

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The governor warned that his administration would not tolerate indiscipline, corruption or dishonest conduct, urging the appointees to lead by example and ensure effective delivery of their ministries’ mandates.

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He also called on them to embrace innovation and technology to improve efficiency and service delivery across the public sector.

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Yahaya reiterated his administration’s commitment to workers’ welfare, saying the government would continue to provide opportunities for capacity building and create an enabling environment for civil servants to perform effectively.

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