by Christiana Gokyo, Jos
Twelve newly-appointed Permanent Secretaries have been sworn-in by Governor Bala Abdulkadir Muhammad of Bauch State.
While swearing-in the 12 Permsecs, the governor reiterated his unwavering commitment to restoring the lost glory of the State’s Civil Service through actualization of a knowledge-driven service.
Speaking during the ceremony at the new Banquet Hall, Government House Bauchi State, Governor Bala Muhammad stated that, “At the moment, the Service has lost the culture of commitment, dedication, selflessness and sacrifice.”
He appealed to senior citizens of Bauchi State, who have spent the better part of their lives in the Service, to exercise patience and restraint, as the State Government strives more to offset the backlog of their gratuities.
“I appeal to our senior citizens, who have spent the better part of their lives in the services of the state, to exercise more patience and restraint, as we strive more to make sure we pay our indebtedness that we have inherited,” he noted.
The governor assured that, with the adoption of the Contributory Pension Scheme, the State Government will go to the capital market to flood a bond, or approach PenCom, to liquidate the backlog of gratuities in the state.
He said that the State Government is very much concerned about the backlog of gratuities for both the state and local government councils, revealing that since the inception of his administration, in 2019, the sum of N6,635,985,487.67k has been paid to reduce the gratuities back long which, he said, is just “a small kite” on the indebtedness of about N25 billion.
Governor Muhammad said that as a responsible and responsive government, his administration has resolved to restore sanity to the civil service so as to get the state back on track, thereby, putting a stop to the syndrome of ‘business as usual,’ saying, he would not hesitate to invoke the full wrath of Public Service Rules on any civil servant, including permanent secretaries, found wanting in the discharge of his or her duties.
“The permanent secretaries should uphold the culture of neutrality and loyalty to the government of the day. Under no circumstance should they involve themselves in partisan politics.
“As accounting officers of their MDAs, they should live above board and make accountability and transparency their watchwords. They should resist the temptation to misappropriate public funds or engage in activities capable of bringing the government into disrepute,” he stated.
He advised the Permanent Secretaries on the implementation of government policies and programmes, based on the extant rules of the civil service, and called their attention to, as of necessity, subordinate themselves to the political leadership of their ministries, departments and agencies, and work harmoniously with them for effective service delivery.
The governor explained that the permanent secretaries have been appointed after passing the prescribed Civil Service Examination and in consideration of their satisfactory conduct and performance as directors, and urged them to practically demonstrate their competence and justify their appointments by effectively and efficiently discharging their duties.
He stressed the need for civil servants to be acquainted with the norms and values of the service to avoid trial-and-error in the discharge of their duties, and tasked permanent secretaries, directors and all cadres of the civil service to be conversant with public service rules, financial instructions, stores regulations and extant circulars so as to be properly guided against committing avoidable infractions.
“Misconduct and declining productivity in the Civil Service are due to lack of proper monitoring and supervision. The Annual Performance Evaluation Report (APER), which is supposed to be the barometer for gauging the conduct and performance of civil servants, is being flagrantly abused to the extent that it has become a mere formality done only for the purpose of promotion, without consideration for the actual performance or conduct of the officers reported upon.
“It is worrisome that, Heads of Personnel of the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies could not even care to ensure that APERs are administered to their staff on regular basis. There are instances where the APERs are administered in arrears of two to three or more years. Even where the APERs are administered, there are also instances where habitual truants, indolent or inefficient officers are rated favorably, in spite of their glaring shortcomings,” he stated.
Governor Muhammad, who regretted that at the moment, the service has lost the culture of commitment, dedication, selflessness and sacrifice, however reiterated the unwavering commitment of his administration towards restoring the lost glory of the state’s civil service through actualization of a knowledge-driven service.
“Consequently, civil servants no more earn their promotion, but they simply wait to attain the minimum number of years for promotion to the next grade level, regardless of their conduct or performance. This ignoble practice must stop.
“The Head of Civil Service and Special Adviser on civil service are hereby directed to take appropriate action to address the anomaly,” he stated.
The newly-appointed Permanent Secretaries are as follows: Ibrahim Yusheu Isah and Liatu M Gayus, both from Alkaleri LGA; Sirajo Muhammad Jaja and Muhammad Hamisu Garba, both from Bauchi LGA; and Yakubu Bello from Darazo LGA.
Others are: Ibrahim Mato Sulaiman, from Dass LGA; Chiroma Ahmed Malle, PhD, from Jama’are LGA; Auwalu Shehu Jalo, from Ningi LGA; Samaila Muhammad Tela, from Shira LGA; Shuaibu Alh Muhammad, from Toro LGA; Ahmad Ali Ranga, from Warji LGA; and Hamisu Mohammed, from Zaki LGA.
The new Permanent Secretary, Political, Research and Economic Affairs in the office of the Secretary to the State Government, Ahmad Ali Ranga, who responded on behalf of the sworn-in permanent secretaries, expressed gratitude to Governor Bala Muhammad for finding them worthy of the elevation, and promised to justify the confidence reposed in them.