Kano Governor sacks Head of Service

In a significant administrative shake-up, Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has terminated the appointment of the state’s Head of Service, Alhaji Abdullahi Musa, effective immediately  a move described by the government as part of a broader drive to reform and revitalize the state’s civil service.

The announcement, made on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, was communicated through an official statement released by the governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin-Tofa.
According to the statement, the removal of Alhaji Abdullahi Musa is not a disciplinary action but rather a deliberate administrative decision aimed at repositioning the Kano State civil service for higher standards of performance and accountability.

The Official Statement

Governor Yusuf’s office was clear in framing the decision as forward-looking. The spokesperson stated that the move aligns with the administration’s ongoing commitment to achieving greater efficiency, discipline, and improved service delivery across all government institutions in Kano State.

“The decision is part of the ongoing efforts by the present administration to reposition the state civil service for greater efficiency, discipline, and improved service delivery across all government institutions.”
 Sunusi Bature Dawakin-Tofa, Governor’s Spokesperson

Governor Yusuf reportedly expressed appreciation for Alhaji Abdullahi Musa’s years of dedication and contributions to the Kano State civil service, wishing him success in future endeavours.
The outgoing Head of Service was directed to hand over all affairs of the office to the Acting Head of Service by Wednesday, March 11, 2026

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Who Is Abdullahi Musa?

Alhaji Abdullahi Musa is a seasoned bureaucrat with over three decades of experience within the Kano State civil service.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in International Relations from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, as well as a Master’s degree in Public Policy and Administration from Bayero University, Kano, and another in Strategy and Security Administration from the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna.

Before his appointment as Head of Service in November 2023, Musa served as Permanent Secretary across several critical government offices including the Kano Government House, the Council Affairs Directorate, the Administration and General Services of the Cabinet Office, the Ministry of Special Duties, and the SERVICOM Directorate.
His appointment as Head of Service was made by Governor Yusuf himself, following the voluntary resignation of the former occupant of the office, Alhaji Usman Bala.

A Tenure Already Under Scrutiny

Notably, Alhaji Abdullahi Musa’s time at the helm of the civil service had already attracted a degree of controversy.
His statutory service tenure had elapsed as far back as 2024, making him technically due for retirement under standard civil service regulations.
However, Governor Yusuf’s administration chose to retain him at the time, extending his service alongside several other senior officials  including Permanent Secretaries  citing their demonstrated competence, excellence, and sense of responsibility.

That decision to extend tenures was made pursuant to provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and was initially defended as a pragmatic measure to prevent vacuums in strategic positions. However, the extension remained a point of discussion among civil service observers and governance analysts in Kano State.

Acting Head of Service Named

To ensure continuity in governance, Governor Yusuf swiftly named a replacement in an acting capacity. Hajiya Bilkisu Shehu Maimota, who previously served as the Permanent Secretary for Administration and General Services at the Cabinet Office, has been appointed to oversee the Head of Service portfolio pending the appointment of a substantive successor.

The choice of Maimota is not without irony  she was among the officials whose tenures were extended alongside Abdullahi Musa in 2024.
Her elevation to the acting role suggests the governor has confidence in her institutional knowledge and administrative capabilities during this transition period.

Broader Context: Civil Service Reform in Kano

This development does not occur in a vacuum.
Since taking office in May 2023, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has consistently signalled an intention to recalibrate the Kano civil service.
Early in his tenure, his administration scrapped a pension law introduced under his predecessor that had allowed thousands of workers to extend their service beyond the standard 35-year or 60-year-of-age retirement threshold.
That reversal affected roughly 4,000 workers who were subsequently retired.

The Yusuf administration also conducted a rigorous screening of approximately 13,000 civil servants employed at the tail end of the previous administration, ultimately retaining 10,000 on a permanent and pensionable basis while dismissing 3,000 others who did not meet the qualifying criteria.

Wednesday’s sacking of the Head of Service thus appears to be another chapter in an ongoing story of administrative restructuring  one that the governor is determined to see through as part of his legacy in Kano State governance.

What Comes Next?

Political and governance watchers in Kano will be closely monitoring who eventually gets appointed as the substantive Head of Service.
The person appointed to this pivotal role will be responsible for overseeing thousands of civil servants, managing inter-ministerial coordination, and driving the administration’s service delivery targets across the state.

For now, all eyes are on Hajiya Bilkisu Shehu Maimota as she takes the helm in an acting capacity  tasked with ensuring the machinery of the Kano State civil service keeps running smoothly during the transition.