ODODO’S VISIONARY LEADERSHIP: A NEW ERA FOR KOGI STATE CIVIL SERVICE*— *Barr Muhammed

By Abah Benjamin Eneojoh

Government House, Lokoja

August 11, 2025

In a momentous occasion marking the Civil Service Week in Kogi State, Chairman of the Civil Service Commission, Barr. Muhammed Musa Tanko, today delivered a stirring speech highlighting the journey so far and calling on His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, to approve pending requests that would further boost the morale of civil servants in the state.

Under Governor Ododo’s leadership, Kogi State has made significant strides in transforming the civil service. Digital transformation, implementation of the National Minimum Wage, payment of salaries and leave bonuses, and gazetting of the Kogi State Vigilante Service personnel into the state civil service are just a few examples of the progress made so far. The state government has also established the Kogi State ICT Development Agency, headed by a Director-General, Dr. Bashir Tenuche, to drive digital innovation and development.

However, the chairman acknowledged that challenges persist in every system. Issues of capacity, resource constraints, and bureaucratic bottlenecks are some of the challenges that need to be addressed. Moreover, retirement from service is creating a vacuum that threatens to disrupt operations, and a robust succession plan is needed to mitigate this risk.

Barr. Tanko humbly called on His Excellency to look at the following requests with penetrating idea of clarity and approve them. These include pending promotions for deserving and qualified civil servants in respect of years 2023, 2024, and 2025, training for MDAs in compliance with global best practices, training for the Comptroller-General and management team of the Kogi State Vigilante Service, and recruitment of staff to bridge the gap between junior and senior staff.

Governor Ododo’s visionary leadership has been a game-changer for Kogi State, and his commitment to transforming the civil service is evident in the progress made so far. With these requests approved, the state civil service is poised to achieve even greater heights, and the people of Kogi State will reap the benefits of good governance.

As the civil servants of Kogi State celebrate this week, they do so with hope and optimism for a brighter future. With the leadership of His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, and the dedication of the civil servants, Kogi State is set to achieve greatness. God bless His Excellency, God bless the Head of Civil Service, Pastor Elijah Adeiza Evinemi, CFA, PhD., and God bless the civil servants of Kogi State!