Godwin Shaibu
President Bola Tinubu has approved the deployment of four newly appointed Federal Permanent Secretaries to strategic government offices as part of ongoing reforms within the federal civil service.
The deployment, announced through the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, is aimed at improving policy coordination, strengthening governance, and accelerating implementation of the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The latest appointments have triggered fresh public interest in the role of permanent secretaries in Nigeria, how they are selected, and the broader restructuring currently taking place within the federal bureaucracy under the Tinubu administration.
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According to the Presidency, the appointments followed a rigorous and merit-driven selection process designed to strengthen professionalism, efficiency and continuity within the federal civil service.
Profiles of the Newly Appointed Permanent Secretaries
1. Warrens Bekearedebo Augusta – Bayelsa State
Mrs Warrens Bekearedebo Augusta was appointed as one of the new Federal Permanent Secretaries representing Bayelsa State. She has now been deployed to Political and Economic Affairs in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
Government officials say her appointment reflects the administration’s push for experienced technocrats capable of strengthening coordination between ministries and federal agencies.
2. Jones-Nebo Nkiruka Bella – Enugu State
Mrs Jones-Nebo Nkiruka Bella emerged as one of the newly appointed permanent secretaries from Enugu State.
She has been assigned to the Career Management Office under the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, a sensitive department responsible for career progression, postings and personnel management within the federal bureaucracy.
3. Aminu Sani Yargaya – Kano State
Mr Aminu Sani Yargaya, who represents Kano State, was deployed to the Special Services Office under the Cabinet Affairs Office of the SGF.
His appointment comes at a time when the administration is intensifying coordination across ministries and strengthening internal administrative structures within the presidency.
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4. Shoretire Ayinda Kamil – Ogun State
Dr Shoretire Ayinda Kamil from Ogun State was posted to the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment. His deployment is considered particularly important amid ongoing labour negotiations, wage discussions and economic reforms affecting workers across Nigeria.
Permanent secretaries occupy one of the most influential positions in Nigeria’s governance system.
They are the highest-ranking career civil servants in federal ministries and serve as accounting officers responsible for policy implementation, budgeting, institutional coordination and administration. Unlike ministers, who are political appointees, permanent secretaries are career bureaucrats expected to provide continuity regardless of changes in government.
The difference between ministers and permanent secretaries has become one of the most searched aspects of the latest appointments. Ministers are political heads appointed by the President to provide policy direction and represent the administration politically, while permanent secretaries oversee the day-to-day administration of ministries and ensure government policies are implemented through the civil service structure.
Federal Ministries and Offices Affected by the Deployment
The latest deployment affects several strategic government institutions, including:
- Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation
- Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment
- Career Management Office under the OHCSF
- Cabinet Affairs Office
- Political and Economic Affairs Office
- Special Services Office
Analysts believe these offices are central to Tinubu’s broader efforts to improve inter-ministerial coordination and accelerate execution of government policies.
How Permanent Secretaries Are Selected in Nigeria
Federal permanent secretaries are typically selected from the highest cadre of the civil service after years of administrative experience. Candidates usually undergo screening exercises, written assessments, oral interviews and performance evaluations coordinated by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation before final approval by the President.
Government officials said the latest appointments followed a “rigorous and transparent selection process” consistent with the administration’s emphasis on meritocracy and professionalism.
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Tinubu’s Civil Service Reforms
Since assuming office in 2023, Tinubu has continued a broad restructuring of Nigeria’s civil service through fresh appointments, redeployments and tenure renewals involving top bureaucrats.
The administration says the reforms are designed to modernise the federal bureaucracy, improve service delivery, deepen accountability and strengthen institutional efficiency across ministries and agencies.
The government has repeatedly linked the reforms to the Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in areas involving economic coordination, labour administration and public sector productivity.
The latest deployment also follows earlier redeployments of serving permanent secretaries across ministries and departments as part of efforts to reposition the federal civil service for improved performance.
List of Tinubu-Appointed Permanent Secretaries Since 2023
Since becoming President in 2023, Tinubu has approved the appointment of several permanent secretaries into the Federal Civil Service.
The appointees announced in 2025 and 2026 include:
Appointed in 2026
- Warrens Bekearedebo Augusta – Bayelsa State
- Jones-Nebo Nkiruka Bella – Enugu State
- Aminu Sani Yargaya – Kano State
- Shoretire Ayinda Kamil – Ogun State
Appointed in 2025
- Ibrahim Abdulkarim Ozi – Federal Capital Territory
- Ezemama John Chidiebere – Imo State
- Garba Abdul Sule Usman – North Central
- Ishiyaku Musa Mohammed – North East
- Binyerem Chigbonwu Ukaire – South East
Political observers say the growing number of appointments and redeployments under the Tinubu administration signals increasing attention to bureaucratic coordination as the government pursues economic reforms, institutional restructuring and governance reforms across key sectors of the economy.
