The Administrator and Chief Executive Officer of the Public Service Institute of Nigeria (PSIN), Ms. Imeh Okon has commended the Yobe State Government for its strong commitment to leadership continuity and sustainable governance through deliberate investment in human capital development.
Ms. 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,” brought together senior bureaucrats and resource persons to explore strategies for strengthening leadership and governance systems within the state’s civil service.
In her remarks, the PSIN Administrator applauded Governor Mai Mala Buni for his foresight and partnership in prioritising public sector training and capacity development. She described the retreat’s theme as “timely and visionary,” stressing that institutions can only thrive when leadership is continuous, knowledge is transferred, 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 prioritising leadership continuity and institutional resilience, Yobe State is leading by example.”
Ms. Okon reaffirmed PSIN’s mandate to build a competent, ethical, and innovative public service capable of delivering tangible results to citizens. She noted that effective succession planning must be rooted in continuous training, mentorship, and exposure to emerging governance trends.
Citing global best practices from Singapore and the United Kingdom, the PSIN boss explained that successful public service systems deliberately identify and groom potential leaders through structured talent pipelines and transparent career development programmes. She said Yobe State’s efforts to align with such practices reflect its readiness to sustain excellence in governance.
Highlighting PSIN’s flagship programmes — SMART-P, which builds administrative and technical capacity; LEAD-P, which grooms emerging leaders; and the Exit from Service Masterclass, designed to prepare officers for life after service — Ms. Okon urged the Yobe Government to integrate the Exit Masterclass into its human resource framework.
According to her, doing so would ensure smooth transitions for retirees, retain institutional wisdom, 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 the consistency of 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 the Permanent Secretary, Public Service, Alhaji Shehu, the Acting Head of Service lauded PSIN as the “mother institution of public service learning” and expressed appreciation for the Institute’s continued collaboration with the state.
He said the governor 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 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.
Alhaji Shehu urged participants to engage fully in the retreat, share experiences, and cascade the knowledge gained to officers in their respective ministries, departments, and agencies.
He noted that the exercise formed part of a deliberate strategy to institutionalise effective succession planning within the Yobe State Civil Service, ensuring sustained productivity and improved service delivery to citizens.