News

AUDA-NEPAD Nigeria Thumbs Katsina State for Peaceful Local Government Elections

Published

9 months ago

February 15, 2025

Joel Ajayi

The African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD) Nigeria has commended the Executive Governor of Katsina State, His Excellency Dikko Umar Radda, the Katsina State Independent Electoral Commission, and the people of Katsina State for the peaceful and transparent conduct of the Local Government Council (LGC) elections held on February 15, 2025.

An observer team from AUDA-NEPAD Nigeria, led by Deputy Director and Head of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Department, Mallam Garba Shehu, visited various wards and polling units to assess the election process. The team observed a high level of orderliness and commended the peaceful disposition of voters, political party agents, security personnel, and other stakeholders.

While the agency is yet to release an official report, preliminary observations indicate that the absence of political interference significantly contributed to the smooth electoral process.

“We have it on good authority that His Excellency, Governor Dikko Umar Radda, is the first governor of the state to oversee LGC elections from one administration to another without interfering with due process, appointing caretaker chairmen, or unlawfully extending the tenure of incumbents. This commitment to democratic principles has played a crucial role in ensuring a peaceful and credible election,” said Mallam Shehu.

AUDA-NEPAD Nigeria, through its APRM mandate, remains committed to promoting democracy and good governance in the country. The agency also aligns with the policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, in safeguarding the constitutional rights of local governments and enhancing democratic processes at all levels.

Share on Facebook

News

PSIN Administrator Commends Yobe Government for Championing Leadership Continuity and Institutional Sustainability

Published

3 hours ago

November 5, 2025

The Gleamer

Cyril Igele

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

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

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

In her remarks, the PSIN Administrator praised Governor Mai Mala Buni for his foresight and partnership in prioritizing public sector training and capacity development. She described the theme of the retreat as both “timely and visionary,” emphasizing that institutions endure only when leadership is continuous, knowledge is shared, 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.”

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

Citing best practices from Singapore and the United Kingdom, Okon noted that successful public service systems deliberately identify and nurture potential leaders through structured talent pipelines and transparent career development programmes. According to her, Yobe State’s initiative reflects its readiness to sustain excellence in governance.

She also highlighted PSIN’s flagship programmes—SMART-P, which builds administrative and technical capacity; LEAD-P, designed to groom emerging leaders; and the Exit from Service Masterclass, which prepares officers for life after service. Okon urged the Yobe Government to adopt the Exit Masterclass into its human resource framework to ensure a smooth transition for retirees, preserve institutional knowledge, and promote 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 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 results-driven and high-performing public service.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Public Service, Alhaji Shehu, the Acting Head of Service expressed gratitude to God and lauded PSIN as the “mother institution of public service learning.” He stated that Governor Buni 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 have 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.

He urged participants to fully engage in the retreat, share experiences, and cascade the knowledge gained to officers across ministries, departments, and agencies. The exercise, he explained, forms part of a deliberate strategy to institutionalize effective succession planning within the Yobe State Civil Service, thereby ensuring sustained productivity and improved service delivery to citizens.

Share on Facebook