By Danjuma Attah, Gombe
Senior Government officials, civil servants, and some key stakeholders have made strong calls for rejuvenation, reforms, and renewed commitment towards the service of the people.
The calls were made during an event marking the 2025 International Civil Service Week where a compelling lecture was held at the Education Resource Centre (ERC) Gombe.
In a keynote address, Dr. Manassah Daniel Jatau, the Deputy Governor of Gombe State, described the civil service as the “driving force” and “engine room” of Government at all levels.
He stressed the need for a complete rejuvenation of the system to meet the dynamic demands of the society emphasizing that “the Civil Service is the engine of all three tiers of Government, and we must ensure it functions effectively.”
According to him, there is widespread dissatisfaction, including the introduction of SERVICOM during President Obasanjo’s administration, an evidence for the urgent need for reforms.
“Reports about the performance, delivery, innovation, and creativity of the civil service show that it has lost steam. Many believe the Civil Service has collapsed or gone into a coma. Rejuvenation is now a compelling need. We must take action to give new energy to the system”, he warned.
He therefore proposed a series of reforms to address the systemic issues which include: integration of ICT, regular training and capacity-building, improved feedback mechanisms, and the adoption of systems thinking.
Dr. Jatau commended the Head of Service of the Federation and the Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, for their continued support and foresight and for choosing the theme, “Rejuvenating the Civil Service.”
Alhaji Ahmed Kasimu Abdullahi, the Head of Civil Service of Gombe State, stressed the need for the civil service to evolve to meet current and future challenges.
“We must accelerate public service delivery and build institutional capacity to drive development through robust human capital development. Under the visionary leadership of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, several transformative reforms have been initiated in the state.
“These include, the establishment of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms, review of service regulations, recruitment of over 1,400 personnel to address skill gaps, and infrastructural developments such as the House of Assembly Complex, High Court, and the ongoing state-of-the-art Secretariat Complex among many others”, he stated.
In his presentation titled, “The Civil Service: Engine Room or…” Malam Aliyu Kamara, a former Head of Service, traced the history of the civil service to ancient Chinese and Roman systems based on meritocracy and described the modern civil service as the vehicle for implementing Government policies.
“Merit, neutrality, professionalism, and rule-based conduct define the civil service. However, for it to remain relevant, it must embrace digitisation and continuous reform”, pointed out.
“With President Tinubu’s directive for a paperless federal civil service by December 2025, it’s time for States and Local Governments to proactively adapt. Let us ask ourselves – are we truly the engine room of development or just salary earners waiting to retire?”, Kamara warned.
End.
