The Yobe State Government has announced the immediate suspension of all Transfers of Service (TOS) from the Local Government system to the State Mainstream Civil Service.
The directive was issued by the Office of the Head of Service following an observed increase in requests for transfer submitted through the State Civil Service Commission.
In a circular signed by the Head of Service, Abdullahi Musa Shehu, the government clarified that the Office of the Head of Service does not approve transfers from the Local Government system to the State Civil Service as a matter of policy, except where express approval is granted by the Executive Governor, after which such approval would be formally conveyed by the Head of Service.
The circular explained that previous large-scale approvals of Transfer of Service were deliberate and strategic interventions aimed at addressing critical manpower shortages that arose after the retirement of officers who joined the Borno State Civil Service before the creation of Yobe State in 1991.
According to the statement, those measures were necessary at the time to prevent administrative gaps across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and to ensure smooth succession and continuity in governance.
However, the Office of the Head of Service noted that the situation has since changed, stressing that the state now has an adequate pool of competent, senior and experienced officers across all cadres, making further transfers from the Local Government system unnecessary.
The Head of Service also advised civil servants across the state to remain committed to their duties and to continuously update their skills through on-the-job training and other capacity-building programmes provided by the government.
Civil servants were further encouraged to acquire relevant academic qualifications and professional certifications to enhance their competence and competitiveness, both within and outside the state, in line with global best practices.
All MDAs have been directed to give the circular the widest possible circulation and to ensure strict compliance.
