By Abdulkareem Haruna

Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has put a halt to the traditional practice of promoting career civil servants to Permanent Secretary roles without thorough assessment. Going forward, candidates for the position will be subjected to rigorous interviews and examinations to prove their capabilities.

Zulum stated that his second four-year term will not perpetuate the previous approach. “No longer will I assign anyone to the role of a Permanent Secretary without them first passing an interview and a qualifications examination,” he declared.

The Governor made these comments at the swearing-in ceremony for the new Secretary to Government of Borno state, Dr. Bukar Tinnani, four Special Advisers, and a female Permanent Secretary, all of whom he had appointed the previous week.

The swearing-in, supervised by the Chief Judge of Borno state, Justice Kashim Zannah, was described by Zulum as a key step in the implementation of his administration’s policy. The policy runs on the dual tracks of The 25 Years Development Plan and Ten Years Strategic Action Plan.

With the new Secretary to the Government (SSG) installed, Zulum clarified, “All communications to me must henceforth pass through the SSG office for guidance, directives, and advice.” He emphasized that the selection of the SSG was based on a notable record of service, dedication to duty, and extensive governance experience.

Zulum assured the Borno state populace of his best efforts and requested their full support for the new SSG. He also urged the new advisers to provide unbiased counsel contributing to the state’s success.

As for the Permanent Secretaries, the Governor reminded them of their roles as the chief accounting officers of their respective ministries. He encouraged them to foster delegation of responsibility and maintain regular meetings with their subordinates for effective monitoring and feedback.

The acting SSG expressed his commitment to support the new SSG’s success and praised Governor Zulum for keeping the state on a path of progress and development.