The Administrator and Chief Executive Officer of the Public Service Institute of Nigeria (PSIN), Ms. Imeh Okon, has commended the Yobe Government for its commitment to leadership continuity and sustainable governance through deliberate investment in human capital development.
Okon gave the commendation at the opening of a Management Retreat for Permanent Secretaries of Yobe State, held at the PSIN headquarters in Abuja.
The retreat, with the theme “Succession Planning, Leadership Continuity, and Institutional Sustainability in the Yobe State Public Service,” brought together senior bureaucrats and experts to discuss strategies for strengthening leadership and governance systems in the state civil service.
The PSIN administrator applauded Governor Mai Mala Buni for prioritising capacity development and public sector training. She described the retreat’s theme as “timely and visionary,” noting that strong institutions thrive on systems that ensure continuity and knowledge transfer.
“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 prioritising leadership continuity and institutional resilience, Yobe State is leading by example.”
Okon said PSIN remained committed to building a competent, ethical, and innovative public service that delivers effective results to citizens.
She explained that sustainable succession planning must be based on continuous training, mentorship, and exposure to emerging governance trends.
According to her, global models such as Singapore and the United Kingdom have demonstrated that successful public services deliberately identify and groom leaders through structured career development and transparent talent management systems.
She said Yobe State’s decision to adopt similar practices shows its readiness to sustain excellence and stability in governance.
Okon also highlighted 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 public service.
She urged the Yobe Government to integrate the Exit Masterclass into its human resource framework to ensure smooth transitions for retirees while preserving institutional memory and encouraging 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 said. “When we prepare successors in advance and invest in continuous learning, we guarantee the sustainability of reforms and consistency in 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 Dr Hamidu Babi, Permanent Secretary, Public Service in Yobe State, Shehu described PSIN as the “mother institution of public service learning” and expressed appreciation for the opportunity to train the top echelon of the state’s bureaucracy.
“In line with Governor Buni’s directive, we brought the senior officers of the state civil service to PSIN—the core implementers of government policies—to strengthen continuity, sustainability, and accountability in our ongoing reforms,” he said.
He urged participants to actively engage in the retreat, share experiences, and apply the knowledge gained across their various ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).
Shehu said the retreat formed part of efforts to institutionalise effective succession planning within the Yobe civil service to ensure productivity, efficiency, and better service delivery to citizens.
(NAN)
