The swearing-in of twenty-three Commissioners, Special Advisers and Permanent Secretaries by Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya was more than a constitutional exercise. It marked the beginning of the final phase of an administration that has less than a year to consolidate seven years of reforms and deliver on the promises made to the people of Gombe State.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s message to the new appointees was simple and unmistakable: there is no time for learning; there is only time for performance.
That charge is significant because these officials are not inheriting empty ministries. They are stepping into institutions already driven by the Gombe State Ten-Year Development Plan (DEVAGOM 2021–2030)—a blueprint designed to ensure that development is guided by strategy rather than political expediency.
Their assignment, therefore, is not to reinvent government but to accelerate implementation.
Every commissioner now becomes a custodian of that vision.
The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs must consolidate the peace that has made Gombe one of the more secure states in the North-East. In an era of evolving security threats, maintaining public safety through intelligence gathering, community engagement and collaboration with security agencies remains essential. Security is the foundation upon which every other development objective rests.
The commissioners responsible for Works and Infrastructure, Housing, Water Resources and Energy must sustain the momentum of infrastructural development that has transformed communities across the state. Roads, water supply, housing and energy projects must not only be completed but maintained and expanded to stimulate economic growth, improve service delivery and connect rural communities to opportunities.
The Ministry of Environment and Forest Resources carries an equally important responsibility. As climate change continues to challenge northern Nigeria, environmental protection, afforestation, erosion control and sustainable resource management must remain central to the state’s development agenda. Economic progress and environmental sustainability must advance together.
Healthcare remains one of the administration’s strongest achievements, earning national recognition for improvements in primary healthcare delivery and health insurance coverage. The task before the Ministry of Health is to consolidate these gains, strengthen disease surveillance, improve specialist care and ensure that Gombe retains its leadership position by expanding access to quality and affordable healthcare.
The Ministry of Education now assumes an even broader responsibility with the inclusion of higher education. Having made significant progress in improving basic education through school rehabilitation, teacher development and better learning outcomes, the next challenge is to strengthen tertiary education, promote technical and vocational training, encourage research and innovation and prepare young people for an increasingly knowledge-driven economy. The future competitiveness of Gombe will depend largely on the quality of education delivered today.
Agriculture, livestock development, finance, economic planning, science and technology, trade, youth development and women affairs must equally drive inclusive growth by creating jobs, supporting entrepreneurship, strengthening food security and expanding opportunities for every segment of society.
However, development is not the responsibility of commissioners alone.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s recognition of the role played by Permanent Secretaries during the transition period following the dissolution of the Executive Council was a reminder that strong institutions are built on a professional civil service. Commissioners provide political leadership, Permanent Secretaries ensure administrative continuity, while Special Advisers contribute strategic thinking and policy innovation. Together, they form the institutional framework required to translate government policies into measurable results.
Perhaps the most enduring message from the Governor’s address was his emphasis on legacy.
As the administration enters its final year, the true measure of success will not simply be the number of projects commissioned, but the strength of the institutions it leaves behind. The Development Agenda for Gombe State was conceived as a long-term framework that extends beyond one administration. It is intended to guide development to 2030 regardless of who occupies Government House.
That places an even greater responsibility on the newly inaugurated public officials.
Every reform should be institutionalised.
Every policy should be documented.
Every project should be linked to measurable outcomes.
Every ministry should leave behind systems that future administrations can sustain.
This is how governance matures.
This is how development becomes sustainable.
The administration that succeeds in 2027 should inherit functioning institutions, clear policy frameworks and a public service driven by performance rather than personalities.
Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has often spoken about leaving Gombe better than he met it. Achieving that objective will require more than completing ongoing projects. It will require building institutions capable of sustaining progress long after this administration has left office.
The newly sworn-in commissioners, Special Advisers and Permanent Secretaries therefore have a dual responsibility.
They must deliver on the promises of today while laying the institutional foundation for tomorrow.
If they succeed, the legacy of the Inuwa Yahaya administration will not be measured only by roads constructed, hospitals revitalised, schools improved or investments attracted.
It will be remembered for establishing a culture of strategic planning, institutional continuity and accountable governance through the Gombe State Ten-Year Development Plan.
Governments come and go.
Political office is temporary.
But institutions endure.
And history remembers those who build systems strong enough to outlive themselves.
— Chika Udenkwo
Lead Commentator, Echoes of the People