The Federal Government has dismissed allegations that appointments made by President Bola Tinubu’s administration have been skewed in favour of a particular region, insisting that all appointments were in line with the federal character principle as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution.
This defence was contained in a statement issued on Friday by the Director of Information and Public Relations at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Segun Imohiosen.
Reacting to widespread criticisms, particularly on social media, over the composition of federal appointments, Imohiosen stressed that President Tinubu is committed to fairness, equity and national unity.
“The government categorically refutes claims of lopsidedness and emphasizes its unwavering commitment to the principles of fairness, equity, and national unity.
All appointments are made in strict adherence to federal character principle, as enshrined in Section 14 of the Constitution,” the statement read.
Imohiosen added that Tinubu strongly believes in Nigeria’s unity and upholds the ideals of justice in all national assignments, including appointments into key federal positions.
He urged Nigerians to disregard what he described as “unfounded speculations” and instead rely on official channels for accurate information.
“Pokers of embers of hate and disunity who carry tendentious and unfounded allegations should never be taken seriously by Nigerians,” he warned.
The presidency’s clarification came a day after the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Sunday Dare, shared a list of presidential appointees on X (formerly Twitter).
According to the list, the North-West leads with 152 appointments, followed by the South-West with 29, while the South-East trails with just 16 appointees.
Although Dare did not state the reason for the release, political observers believe it was in response to mounting allegations of nepotism and imbalance in the distribution of federal positions.
Earlier in the week, Senator Ali Ndume of Borno South had publicly criticized President Tinubu for allegedly breaching Section 14(3) of the constitution, which mandates inclusivity and balanced representation across all tiers of government.
Ndume argued that the current list of appointees—including those in the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited—reflects clear deviation from the constitutional provision.
“It’s not that I’m just making accusations. The figures are there,” Ndume stated. “All I am saying is to call the attention of Mr President to such infractions so that it can be corrected; otherwise, these things can boomerang.”
The controversy surrounding the appointments has continued to stir debate across political and regional lines, with many urging the Tinubu administration to ensure inclusivity to maintain national cohesion.
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