Gobir began his career in the federal Nigeria Public Service which he joined in 1950. He later joined the Northern Region Public Service when it was created in 1954. When new states where created in 1967, Gobir served in his home state, Kwara where he established a structure for the new state's civil service, and was the Permanent Service in the Governor's Office. In April 1969, he was transferred to the federal service and was appointed Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Defence during the Civil War. In 1971, he was posted to the Federal Ministry of Establishments and later to the Federal Ministry of Transport.