Gombe State Governor Inuwa Yahaya on Thursday swore in 19 newly appointed permanent secretaries in what he described as the largest single appointment of its kind in the state’s history.
The latest batch brings the total number of permanent secretaries appointed by the Yahaya administration to 55 since it assumed office seven-and-a-half years ago.
Speaking at the ceremony in Gombe, the governor said the appointments form part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the civil service and reposition it as the engine room of government.
He stressed that a competent, motivated, and disciplined civil service is essential for translating policies into tangible results and ensuring continuity in governance.
Yahaya highlighted reforms introduced by his administration, including the establishment of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms, biometric attendance systems to curb ghost workers, implementation of the minimum wage, recruitment of 1,000 teachers, and construction of a new secretariat complex.
He also noted that the government has paid more than ₦33 billion in pension and gratuity obligations, about 70 per cent of which were inherited, and pledged another phase of gratuity payments by the end of September with the goal of clearing all outstanding liabilities before leaving office in May 2027.
The governor explained that the appointments were necessitated by the creation of new ministries and restructuring of government. Senior directors from all 11 local government areas were shortlisted after reviews of their qualifications and service records, followed by written examinations testing general knowledge and ICT skills.
The process prioritised merit, fairness, equity, and geographical representation so that every community has a voice at the highest level of the civil service.
Two of the new permanent secretaries were drawn from outside the state civil service, one from the Federal Service and one from academia to bring national experience and research-driven perspectives.Addressing the appointees, Yahaya charged them to uphold integrity, professionalism, and dedication.
He warned that the administration would not tolerate indiscipline, dishonesty, or corruption, and urged them to lead by example, embrace innovation, and use technology to improve efficiency.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to civil servants’ welfare and capacity building, expressing confidence that the new permanent secretaries would help deliver effective governance and democratic dividends to the people of Gombe State.