By Willies Ugo | Gombe
Gombe State Nigeria – June 2nd, 2025
The Gombe State Government has spent over N1.8 billion on rented office spaces in the last three years due to the absence of a functional State Secretariat, the Head of Civil Service, Ahmed Kasimu Abdullahi, has revealed.
He stated this during an interview with journalists in Gombe, where he commended Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for his commitment to ending the longstanding challenge of inadequate office accommodation for Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the state.
Abdullahi said the decision to construct a new ultra-modern State Secretariat, at the cost of N68.58 billion, is a bold and timely intervention, coming nearly three decades after the creation of the state in 1996.
"The government has spent not less than N600 million annually over the past three years to rent office spaces. This does not include several billions of naira spent by previous administrations on similar arrangements," he said.
A Long Overdue Project
He noted that the current State Secretariat, which was originally intended to serve as a temporary structure, has become grossly inadequate, with several MDAs operating from rented or substandard buildings scattered across the capital.
According to him, the failure of past administrations to prioritize the construction of a befitting secretariat has hampered the efficient functioning of the state civil service.
“The construction of a new Secretariat is a landmark development. It is expected to meet modern standards and will serve generations to come,” he added.
Project Scope And Timeline
The new complex, awarded to Datum Construction Nigeria Limited, will comprise four sections, with each section housing four ministries, in addition to the Office of the Head of Civil Service.
Abdullahi further disclosed that the project is designed to be part of the proposed Three Arms Zone, which will also accommodate the State House of Assembly and the State Judiciary.
The project is expected to be completed within 102 weeks.
Enhancing Efficiency In Governance
The Head of Service emphasized that the initiative would not only enhance administrative efficiency but also reduce the financial burden of annual rents and create a more coordinated and secure work environment for government operations.
“This is a legacy project that reflects the Governor’s vision for institutional reform and long-term infrastructural development,” he said.
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