Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, 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.
The swearing-in ceremony, held at the International Conference Centre in Gombe, brought the number of Permanent Secretaries appointed by the Inuwa Yahaya administration over the past seven and a half years to 55.
The governor also disclosed that more than 100 directors had been elevated into the senior administrative cadre of the state civil service under his administration.
According to a statement by Ismaila Uba Misilli, Director-General, Press Affairs, the appointments form part of the administration’s broader efforts to strengthen institutional capacity, address manpower shortages and build a professional civil service capable of sustaining the state’s development beyond the governor’s tenure.
A major highlight of the governor’s address was the announcement that the state government is preparing for a massive recruitment exercise into the civil service.
Inuwa said the recruitment would follow the establishment of an accurate manpower database through the state’s biometric verification system.
He disclosed that he had directed the Head of Civil Service to work with the State Civil Service Commission to conduct a comprehensive manpower needs assessment across ministries, departments and agencies.
The assessment, he explained, would identify existing manpower gaps and determine the number of personnel required in each institution, paving the way for fresh recruitment before the expiration of his tenure on May 29, 2027.
The governor said the biometric attendance and verification system, which attracted criticism when it was introduced, had demonstrated its value by providing reliable data on the state’s actual workforce.
According to him, the system has helped the government tackle ghost workers and absenteeism while saving the state billions of naira.
He said the reforms had also provided the foundation for a more rational, transparent and needs-based approach to civil service recruitment.
Inuwa noted that civil service reform and institutional strengthening had remained priorities of his administration since assuming office.
He cited the establishment of the Bureau for Public Service Reforms as another major intervention aimed at improving efficiency, accountability and service delivery across the state’s public institutions.
The governor also identified workers’ welfare as a central component of his administration’s civil service policy, stressing the importance of supporting public servants to deliver effectively.
On the appointment of the new Permanent Secretaries, Inuwa said the selection process was guided by competence, merit and equitable representation.
He charged the newly appointed Permanent Secretaries to regard their elevation as a solemn responsibility to the state rather than a personal achievement.
The governor urged them to demonstrate professionalism, integrity and commitment in the discharge of their duties, stressing the importance of an effective civil service to the sustainability of government programmes and development initiatives.
Speaking on behalf of the newly appointed Permanent Secretaries, Musa Mohammed Babaji expressed appreciation to the governor for the confidence reposed in them.
Babaji pledged that the appointees would justify the trust through diligence, loyalty, professionalism and a strong commitment to effective public service.
