By Muhammad Amaan
An Education Development Specialist, Mr Abdullahi Yakubu, has commended Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State, for appointing seven education professionals as Permanent Secretaries.
In an open letter titled “Kano Must Rise: A Call to Collective Responsibility,” describing the move as a significant step toward strengthening the state’s civil service.
Mr Yakubu said the appointments would improve efficiency, accountability and professionalism in public service, noting that educationalists possess the expertise required to drive institutional reforms.
He identified strategic planning, human capital development, data-driven decision-making, ethical leadership and stakeholder engagement as some of the qualities the educationalists bring to senior administrative positions.
He also urged Governor Yusuf to address what he described as the stagnation of Grade Level 15 officers in the education sector, adding that many experienced officers have remained underutilised despite years of service and government investment in their professional development.
According to him, the continued appointment of Grade Level 13 officers as directors, while more senior officers remain without promotion, could result in wasted human capital, loss of institutional memory, low staff morale and missed opportunities for innovation within the civil service.
He called on the governor to review existing directorship appointments, establish a transparent career progression system based on merit and experience, direct the Head of Service and the Civil Service Commission to develop a succession plan, and introduce a rotational programme that would allow educational administrators to serve in other ministries.
Yakubu also highlighted what he described as the administration’s achievements in the education sector, including the recruitment of more than 16,000 teachers, the absorption of thousands of volunteer instructors into permanent employment, sponsorship of students for higher education within and outside Nigeria, and the allocation of N405.3 billion to education in the 2026 budget, representing about 30 per cent of the state’s total budget.
He concluded the letter by urging teachers and other education stakeholders to continue supporting the administration, expressing confidence that sustained investment in education and civil service reforms would contribute to Kano State’s long-term development.
