Gombe State Governor, Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, has disclosed that his administration has paid more than N33 billion in gratuities over the past seven years, with about 70 per cent of the liabilities inherited from the previous administration.
Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony of 19 newly permanent secretaries on Thursday in Gombe, the governor announced that another tranche of gratuity payments would be made before the end of September 2026.
He pledged that his administration would clear the outstanding gratuity backlog by the first quarter of 2027, adding that he is determined to leave behind a civil service that is more professional, digitally accountable, adequately staffed and capable of responding effectively to the needs of citizens.
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.
Governor Yahaya 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.
He, therefore, 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,’ Yahaya 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.