Yobe Slams Immediate Embargo on Contract Appointments

By Sani Gazas Chinade, Damaturu 

The Yobe State Government has announced an immediate embargo on all contract appointments across the State Public Service, following the approval of  Governor (Dr) Mai Mala Buni.

In a circular signed by the state’s Head of Service, Abdullahi Musa Shehu, the government said it will no longer entertain or process any new applications for contract appointments in all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

According to the directive, all serving contract officers are allowed to complete their ongoing contracts, but no renewal, extension, or re-engagement will be approved once their current tenure expires.

However, the embargo excludes a limited category of personnel whose services are deemed essential for the continuous operation of critical sectors. These include:
Medical Doctors and other Health Professionals, Expatriates and Specialized Technical Personnel.

Even for these exempted categories, any request for contract engagement must be clearly justified and submitted for prior approval by the Office of the Head of Service.

The circular emphasized that all MDAs must ensure strict compliance, warning that any breach will be treated as a violation of established service procedures.

The government described the policy shift as a “transformative reform aimed at enhancing succession planning and strengthening career management” within the Yobe State Public Service.