The Secretary to the Kebbi State Government (SSG), Alhaji Yakubu Bala-Tafida, has called on civil servants to match Governor Nasir Idris’s investment in a new multi-billion naira secretariat by providing more efficient and accountable public service.
Bala-Tafida made the appeal on Monday as he officially resumed duties at the newly completed Bola Ahmed Tinubu State Secretariat in Birnin Kebbi, a project revived and delivered by the Idris administration after years of abandonment.
Speaking to journalists after moving into his office, the SSG described the secretariat as a landmark achievement and a testament to the governor’s commitment to strengthening governance infrastructure in the state.
“We thank Allah (SWT) for granting our governor the wisdom, courage, and ability to complete this project. As you can see, this is now my new office, and all ministries are accommodated here. We are indeed very grateful for this,” Bala-Tafida said.
He added that the complex is “designed to comfortably accommodate about 25,000 workers, consolidating ministries and departments under one roof to enhance coordination, reduce bureaucratic delays, and improve service delivery.”
The secretariat, which suffered setbacks under previous administrations, was revived as part of Idris’ broader public sector reform and infrastructure drive aimed at modernising government operations and improving workers’ welfare.
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Kebbi State Head of Service, Malami Shekare, commended the governor for what he described as unprecedented interventions in favour of civil servants, citing the approval of a N75,000 minimum wage, regularisation of casual workers, and recruitment of teachers, nurses, and other professionals.
Shekare disclosed that the government would engage a facility management company to ensure proper maintenance of the new structure, stressing that preserving the complex is a shared responsibility.
Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer of M-Tech Nigeria Limited, Manir Jega, applauded the administration for awarding the contract to an indigenous firm, noting that the timely delivery proves local contractors’ capacity to execute large-scale projects to standard.
The completion and occupation of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu State Secretariat mark a significant step in Kebbi’s administrative reforms, with expectations that the upgraded working environment will translate into improved governance outcomes for residents.