Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has directed five newly inducted Permanent Secretaries to strictly adhere to public service rules and financial regulations while carrying out their official duties.
Lawal gave the charge on Thursday during the swearing-in ceremony of the new Permanent Secretaries at the Grand Chamber of the Government House in Gusau.
The governor urged the appointees to uphold the law, maintain discipline and ensure that public resources were used for their intended purposes.
In a statement on Thursday by his spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, Lawal said the appointments reflected confidence in the officers’ experience and ability to take on greater responsibilities.
“I extend my sincere congratulations to the five officers taking this oath today. Your appointments mark a career milestone and reflect confidence in your experience, abilities, and readiness for greater responsibility,” the governor said.
The newly sworn-in Permanent Secretaries are Ahmad S. Zamfara, Nasiru Halilu Anka, Mu’azu Jibril Guraguri, Adamu Abdullahi Kanoma and Sani Muhammad Shinkafi.
The Chief Judge of Zamfara State, Justice Kulu Aliyu, administered the oath of office to the appointees, who pledged allegiance to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and commitment to upholding the Constitution and the law.
Lawal described the position of Permanent Secretary as central to government operations, noting that the officers were responsible for administrative leadership, policy advice, institutional continuity and the implementation of approved programmes.
“Becoming Permanent Secretaries is more than personal advancement: as senior administrative leaders, your decisions and conduct directly affect government performance and the welfare of the people we serve,” he said.
The governor said his administration remained committed to strengthening government institutions, improving public administration and ensuring effective delivery of essential services across the state.
“Our administration came in with the determination to improve governance, to strengthen institutions and to advance a development agenda that would meet the needs and aspirations of the people of Zamfara,” Lawal said.
He added that the state government was continuing with reforms aimed at improving public administration, stressing that the civil service remained the channel through which government policies and decisions were translated into results.
The governor also urged the new Permanent Secretaries to align their duties with the administration’s priorities through proper planning, effective supervision and regular assessment of performance.
“Proper planning, realistic implementation strategies, effective supervision and continuous assessment of results must support policies and programs,” he said.
Lawal further called on the appointees to maintain professional relationships with commissioners and other political officeholders, emphasising the need for cooperation between political leaders and career civil servants.
“Political leaders set policy; career civil servants provide the institutional knowledge, technical advice, and administrative capacity to implement it. These roles complement each other, and the effectiveness of the Government depends on mutual respect,” the governor said.
What You Should Know
Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal officially swore in five new Permanent Secretaries at the Government House in Gusau, charging them with upholding institutional integrity and discipline. The newly appointed officials are Ahmad S. Zamfara, Nasiru Halilu Anka, Mu’azu Jibril Guraguri, Adamu Abdullahi Kanoma, and Sani Muhammad Shinkafi.
- Positive Impact: Strengthening the civil service with capable administrative leaders can improve the efficiency of government program delivery and institutional accountability.
- Potential Concerns: A lack of proper cooperation between political officeholders and career civil servants could create administrative friction if duties are not clearly aligned.
