Yobe Government Lauded On Leadership, Institutional Reforms

The Administrator and Chief Executive Officer of the Public Service Institute of Nigeria (PSIN), Ms. Imeh Okon, has commended the Yobe State Government for its commitment to leadership continuity and sustainable governance through deliberate investment in human capital development.

Ms. Okon made the commendation at the opening of a Management Retreat for Permanent Secretaries of Yobe State, held at the PSIN headquarters in Abuja.

The retreat, themed “Succession Planning, Leadership Continuity, and Institutional Sustainability in the Yobe State Public Service,” brought together senior bureaucrats and resource persons to deliberate on strategies for strengthening leadership and governance systems within the state’s civil service.

In her remarks, the PSIN Administrator applauded Governor Mai Mala Buni for his foresight and partnership in prioritizing public sector training and capacity development. She described the retreat’s theme as “timely and visionary,” stressing that institutions can only endure when leadership is continuous, knowledge is transferred, and systems—not individuals—drive performance.

“Institutions thrive not merely on structures or policies, but on the deliberate cultivation of capable leaders who can sustain progress across generations,” she said. “By prioritizing leadership continuity and institutional resilience, Yobe State is leading by example.”

Ms. Okon emphasized PSIN’s mandate to build a competent, ethical, and innovative public service capable of delivering tangible results to citizens. She noted that effective succession planning must be rooted in continuous training, mentorship, and exposure to emerging governance trends.

Citing examples from Singapore and the United Kingdom, the PSIN boss explained that successful public service systems deliberately identify and groom potential leaders through structured talent pipelines and transparent career development programmes. She said Yobe State’s initiative to align with such practices reflects its readiness to sustain excellence in governance.

Highlighting PSIN’s key programmes—SMART-P, which builds administrative and technical capacity; LEAD-P, which grooms potential leaders; and the Exit from Service Masterclass, which prepares officers for life after service—Ms. Okon urged the Yobe Government to integrate the Exit Masterclass into its human resource framework. According to her, doing so would ensure a smooth transition for retirees while retaining institutional wisdom and promoting productivity through entrepreneurship and consultancy.

“Succession planning is not an event but a culture that must be institutionalised at every level of public administration,” she added. “When we prepare successors in advance and invest in continuous learning, we guarantee the sustainability of reforms and the consistency of governance.”

Declaring the retreat open, the Acting Head of Service of Yobe State, Alhaji Abdullahi Shehu, reaffirmed Governor Buni’s commitment to building a result-oriented and high-performing public service.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Public Service, Alhaji Shehu expressed gratitude to God and lauded PSIN as the “mother institution of public service learning.”

He said the governor has consistently directed the Office of the Head of Service to promote seamless succession planning and capacity building to enhance efficiency and accountability across government institutions.

“In line with this directive, we brought the top echelon of the state civil service to PSIN—being the drivers and core implementers of government policies and programmes—to strengthen continuity and sustainability in our reforms,” he said.

The Acting Head of Service urged participants to engage fully in the retreat, share experiences, and cascade the knowledge gained to officers in their respective ministries, departments, and agencies.

He noted that the exercise formed part of a deliberate strategy to institutionalize effective succession planning within the Yobe State Civil Service, ensuring sustained productivity and service delivery to citizens.