Shehu Baraya becomes Zamfara’s new Head of Service as Governor Dauda Lawal tasks the career civil servant with improving efficiency and professionalism

Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal has approved the appointment of Alhaji Shehu Baraya as the new Head of the State Civil Service, with the appointment taking immediate effect in Zamfara State on Wednesday, September 2, 2026.

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The appointment was announced by the Secretary to the State Government, Abubakar Nakwada, in a statement signed by Suleman Ahmad Tudu, Senior Special Assistant on Media in the Office of the Secretary to the State Government.

Baraya succeeds Alhaji Yakubu Haidara, who recently retired from the Zamfara State civil service after years of public service.

The new Head of Service brings extensive experience within the state bureaucracy, having served as Permanent Secretary in several ministries.

Before his appointment, Baraya was the Permanent Secretary at the Zamfara State Civil Service Commission, a position that placed him at the centre of the state’s administrative machinery.

The state government described him as a seasoned career civil servant with extensive institutional experience and a strong understanding of public administration.

His appointment comes as the Lawal administration continues efforts to strengthen the effectiveness of the state civil service and align its operations with the government’s wider development agenda.

Governor Lawal commended Haidara for his service and contributions to the development of the civil service, while wishing the retired official a fulfilling post-service life.

The governor also charged Baraya to bring his years of administrative experience to bear in his new role.

Lawal urged the new Head of Service to deepen professionalism, strengthen discipline, improve productivity and enhance efficiency across the state’s civil service.

The governor said the expectations were in line with the administration’s Rescue Agenda, which places emphasis on improving governance and public-sector performance.

Baraya’s appointment therefore represents both a change in leadership at the top of the state bureaucracy and an opportunity for the administration to reinforce its expectations around professionalism and effective public administration.

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As he assumes office, attention will likely focus on how the new Head of Service translates his experience across several ministries into practical improvements in the delivery of government services to residents of Zamfara.