Permanent secretaries remain central to Gombe’s civil servicePermanent secretaries occupy a critical position in Nigeria’s public administration system. Reports by Punch and the Voice of Nigeria stated that commissioners were directed to hand over the affairs of their respective ministries to permanent secretaries. According to the Voice of Nigeria, the redeployment was approved by Governor Yahaya and communicated by the Head of the Civil Service, Professor Muazu Shehu. The development was significant because permanent secretaries were required to keep ministries functioning while the political leadership structure was being reorganised. Permanent secretaries and other career officials will remain within the administrative system after the current political leadership leaves office.