NEF criticizes alleged skewed federal appointments under Tinubu

The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has voiced strong concerns over what it perceives as an unfair pattern of federal appointments made by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu since he took office in October 2023.

The NEF claims that these appointments disproportionately benefit the Southwest region, to the exclusion of Nigeria’s other five geopolitical zones.

In a statement issued by NEF’s spokesperson, Professor Abubakar Jika Jiddere, the forum accused the government of undermining national unity and violating the Nigerian Constitution.

According to Chapter 2, Section 14(3) of the Constitution, the composition of the government and its agencies must reflect Nigeria’s federal character, promoting national unity and ensuring no region dominates the federal government.

The NEF statement pointed out that the principle of federal character is critical not only in political appointments but also in the distribution of resources and the allocation of bureaucratic positions across the country.

A particular point of contention for the NEF is the recent composition of the National Census Committee, which they argue is heavily skewed in favor of the Southwest, leaving other regions excluded.

The forum condemned this exclusionary approach as an affront to democratic principles, including fairness, inclusiveness, justice, and balanced representation.

The NEF emphasized that the conduct of a national census, a sensitive and vital exercise, must be inclusive of all regions to ensure public trust and the accuracy of the results. Any attempt to marginalize certain zones could delegitimize the census process, with long-term negative consequences for national cohesion.

“The composition of the Government of the Federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and to promote national unity, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few states or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups in that Government or in any of its agencies.”

As a result, the NEF has called for the immediate reconstitution of the National Census Committee, urging that it reflects the equitable representation of all six geopolitical zones, in accordance with the federal character principle.

“Consequently, NEF demands the following: The immediate reconstitution of the National Census Committee to ensure equal representation of all six geopolitical zones in line with the federal character principle.

“A holistic review and equitable redistribution of all federal appointments in Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to reflect true national diversity and constitutional compliance.

Additionally, they are demanding a thorough review of all federal appointments within Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), ensuring compliance with the constitutional mandate for diversity.

The forum issued a stern warning that any continued neglect of equity, justice, and inclusivity could jeopardize Nigeria’s unity, deepen regional divisions, and sow seeds of instability.

The statement called for leadership that prioritizes fairness and adheres to the rule of law in order to preserve the country’s unity in its rich diversity.