The Yobe State Government has initiated a series of reforms aimed at enhancing the efficiency, career growth, and overall capacity of civil servants to ensure sustainable and effective service delivery across the state.
Alhaji Abdullahi Shehu, the state Head of Service, made this known at the opening of the State Civil Service Capacity Development Programme, organised by the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), Badagry.
Shehu, who represented Governor Mai Mala Buni at the event, said the ongoing reforms had rekindled hope and improved productivity within the state’s workforce.
He noted that over the years, the governor had consistently demonstrated strong commitment to workers’ welfare, including prompt salary payments and several empowerment initiatives.
“These initiatives cover affordable housing schemes, payment of furniture allowances, and provision of relief materials, both food and non-food items, to ease the burden on workers,” he stated.
Shehu further highlighted that the governor had recently extended similar support to retirees by settling all outstanding gratuity arrears owed to them.
He also commended the administration’s efforts in expanding and professionalising the service through massive recruitment and training of personnel, both locally and internationally.
Addressing participants at the two-week training, Shehu encouraged them to apply the knowledge gained to boost efficiency, innovation, and public service delivery.
According to him, 149 participants successfully completed the training programme, reflecting the administration’s ongoing investment in human capital development.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that ASCON presented Governor Buni with an Award of Excellence in Human Capital Development in recognition of his administration’s reforms and commitment to civil service advancement.
Shehu expressed appreciation to ASCON for the recognition, adding that the award would serve as motivation for the state to further improve service performance and professionalism.
Earlier, the Director-General of ASCON, Dr. Funke Adepoju, commended Yobe State for its proactive partnership and continued investment in workforce development.
She explained that the collaboration reflected a strong understanding that successful reforms depend on the competence, integrity, and commitment of public officers who drive implementation.
“Throughout this programme, participants have shown enthusiasm, discipline, and openness to learning. The sessions covered vital areas such as leadership, innovation in governance, digital transformation, ethics, and performance management,” Adepoju said.
She emphasised that ASCON’s approach now focuses more on experiential and practical learning, enabling participants to apply concepts directly to their work environments.
“Our goal is to help civil servants return to their offices equipped to deliver measurable results. True transformation begins when leaders invest in people,” Adepoju added.
One of the participants, Alhaji Abubakar Idris, thanked the organizers for the impactful training, noting that the skills acquired would be instrumental in improving governance and driving development in Yobe State.