Gombe State has joined the rest of the country in commemorating the 2025 International Civil Service Week, with a strong call for reforms and rejuvenation of the civil service.
The event, held on thursday at the Education Resource Centre (ERC), Gombe, featured a lecture attended by senior government officials, civil servants, and other stakeholders.
In his keynote address, the Deputy Governor of Gombe State, Dr Manassah Daniel Jatau, described the civil service as the “engine room” of government operations.
He said the time had come for a complete rejuvenation of the civil service to meet contemporary demands.
“The civil service remains the engine of all tiers of government and must be repositioned to function effectively,” Jatau said.
He expressed concern over the state of the civil service, describing it as weak and in need of urgent reforms.
“Reports on performance, service delivery, and innovation show that the civil service has lost steam. Some say it has collapsed or gone into a coma,” he said.
He suggested reforms such as integration of ICT, regular training, improved feedback systems, and the adoption of systems thinking to revitalise the civil service.
The deputy governor also called for discipline, patriotism, and dedication among civil servants to restore public trust.
He commended the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for their commitment to civil service reforms.
Earlier, the Head of Civil Service of Gombe State, Alhaji Ahmed Kasimu Abdullahi, said the civil service must adapt to changing realities.
He said under Governor Yahaya’s leadership, the state had undertaken reforms, including the creation of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms, recruitment of over 1,400 workers, and major infrastructural projects.
Abdullahi said the state had also maintained its lead on the Ease of Doing Business index for two consecutive years and had cleared a large part of the N21 billion backlog of gratuities.
In his presentation, former Head of Service, Malam Aliyu Kamara, spoke on the historical evolution of the civil service and emphasised the need for reforms.
Kamara said merit, neutrality, professionalism, and rule-based conduct remain core principles of the civil service.
He urged civil servants to embrace digitisation and innovation, noting the Federal Government’s target of a paperless civil service by December 2025.
He called on state and local governments to proactively adapt to reforms to remain relevant.
The event was attended by commissioners, permanent secretaries, directors, heads of parastatals, and security agencies, among others.
