Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has sworn in 19 newly appointed Permanent Secretaries in what is the largest appointment of Permanent Secretaries in the history of the state.
While performing the swearing-in ceremony at the Gombe International Conference Centre, the Governor said the latest appointments brought to 55 the number of permanent secretaries appointed by his administration over the last seven and a half years, along with over 100 directors elevated to the senior administrative cadre of the state civil service.
He said the appointments were part of a broader effort to strengthen the government’s institutional capacity, address manpower gaps and build a professional public administration capable of sustaining development beyond its mandate.
A highlight of the Governor’s speech was his revelation that his administration was gearing up for a massive recruitment exercise in the state civil service, following the establishment of an accurate manpower database through the biometric verification system.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya said he had already directed the Head of the Civil Service to work with the State Civil Service Commission to conduct a comprehensive assessment of manpower needs across all ministries, departments and agencies to determine existing gaps and the number of personnel required.
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He said the exercise would pave the way for fresh recruitment before his term expires on May 29, 2027.
According to him, the biometric attendance and verification system, which attracted criticism when it was introduced, had since proven its value in providing the government with reliable data on the real workforce, while helping to combat ghost workers and absenteeism and saving the State billions of naira.
The Governor said the reforms had also created the necessary foundation for a more rational and needs-based approach to procurement.
He explained that since taking office, his administration had made civil service reform and institutional strengthening a priority, citing the establishment of the Office of Public Service Reforms as another key intervention aimed at improving efficiency, accountability and service delivery.
Beyond institutional and manpower reforms, Governor Inuwa Yahaya noted worker welfare as a core component of his administration’s civil service policy.
He cited prompt payment of salaries, implementation of minimum wage at the state and local government level, regular promotions and payment of pensions and gratuities as evidence of the government’s commitment to the welfare of workers and retirees.
On gratuity obligations, the Governor disclosed that his administration had paid over N33 billion in gratuities over the last seven and a half years, and about 70 per cent of the obligations inherited from the previous administration.
He announced that another tranche of gratuity payments would be made before the end of September 2026, expressing confidence that the government would clear the backlog of outstanding gratuities by the first quarter of 2027.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya said the government was determined to leave behind a public administration that was more professional, digitally responsible, adequately staffed and able to respond effectively to the needs of citizens.
On the selection of the new Permanent Secretaries, the Governor said the process was designed to ensure competence, merit and equitable representation.
He explained that senior managers of the state’s Local Government Areas were considered, with their qualifications, experience and track record of service being scrutinised. Written examinations were also conducted to assess candidates’ general knowledge and ICT skills.
He added that two of the newly appointed Permanent Secretaries came from outside the conventional structure of the state civil service, one from the Federal Civil Service and another from academia, to bring additional administrative experience, institutional links and research-oriented perspectives to the state bureaucracy.
The Governor charged the new Permanent Secretaries to view their appointments as a solemn responsibility and not as a personal achievement.
“You are the ambassadors of the public administration and your respective communities. Your appointment is not just a personal achievement; it is a trust placed in you by the people of Gombe State.”
He urged them to discharge their responsibilities with integrity, accountability, discipline and diligence, warning that his administration would not tolerate corruption, indiscipline, dishonesty or abuse of power.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya said as his administration enters its final phase, the focus will be on consolidating ongoing reforms, strengthening institutions and ensuring that the gains recorded over the years endure beyond the lifetime of the current administration.
Earlier, the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, commended Governor Inuwa Yahaya for his determined leadership, which had always prioritized professionalism, competence, accountability and institutional development.
Professor Njodi assured the Governor of the public service’s continued commitment to supporting his administration’s reform agenda and development programmes.
He congratulated the new Permanent Secretaries and urged them to be accessible, responsive and innovative in discharging their responsibilities.
Speaking on behalf of the newly appointed Permanent Secretaries, Musa Mohammed Babaji expressed his gratitude to the Governor for the trust reposed in them and promised that those appointed would justify the trust through diligence, loyalty, professionalism and commitment to effective public service.
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