Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has sworn in 19 newly appointed Permanent Secretaries
While performing the swearing-in ceremony on Thursday, the governor said the latest appointments brought to 55 the number of Permanent Secretaries appointed by his administration over the past seven years, with more than 100 directors elevated into the senior administrative cadre of the state civil service
He said the appointments were part of a broader effort to strengthen the institutional capacity of government, address manpower gaps and build a professional civil service capable of sustaining development beyond his tenure
On the selection of the new permanent secretaries, he said the process was designed to ensure competence, merit and equitable representation
Governor Yahaya explained that senior directors from the 11 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state were considered, with their qualifications, experience and service records subjected to scrutiny
He added that two of the newly appointed Permanent Secretaries were drawn from outside the conventional state civil service structure, with one from the Federal Civil Service and another from academia to bring additional administrative experience, institutional linkages and research-oriented perspectives into the state bureaucracy
Yahaya urged the new Permanent Secretaries to see their appointments as a solemn responsibility rather than a personal achievement
“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.”
“You should discharge your duties and responsibilities with integrity, accountability, discipline and diligence, as this administration would not tolerate corruption, indiscipline, dishonesty or abuse of office,” he warned
The governor added that with his administration entering its final phase, the focus would be on consolidating ongoing reforms, strengthening institutions and ensuring that the gains recorded over the years endure beyond the life of the present administration
He also disclosed that his administration is preparing for a massive recruitment exercise into the state civil service, following the establishment of an accurate manpower database through the biometric verification system
Governor Yahaya said 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 to determine existing gaps and the number of personnel required
He said the exercise would pave the way for fresh recruitment before the expiration of his tenure on May 29, 2027
According to him, the biometric attendance and verification system, which attracted criticism when introduced, has since demonstrated its value by providing the government with reliable data on the actual workforce, while helping to tackle ghost workers and absenteeism and saving the state billions of naira