The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has expressed concern over the alleged unequal and skewed federal appointments made by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu since assuming office in October 2023.
According to the NEF, these appointments have overwhelmingly favoured the Southwest region to the detriment of the country’s other five geopolitical zones.
A statement signed by the spokesperson of NEF, Professor Abubakar Jika Jiddere, said this practice not only undermines the spirit of national unity but also blatantly violates the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999 as amended), which, in Chapter 2, Section 14(3), clearly states:
“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.”
The statement noted that the Constitution further requires adherence to the federal character principle in the allocation of political appointments, bureaucratic positions, and the distribution of socio-economic resources across the country.
NEF, however, condemned the recent composition of the National Census Committee, which they said is not only grossly lopsided in favour of the South-West but also appears to be systematically designed to exclude other key regions.
“This exclusionary approach is a clear affront to democratic values such as fairness, inclusiveness, justice, and balanced representation.
“The conduct of a national census is a critical and sensitive matter, one that must enjoy the confidence and participation of all geopolitical zones. Any attempt to marginalise or suppress the interests of other regions risks undermining the legitimacy, accuracy, and national acceptance of the census outcome.
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“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.
“The NEF warns that continued disregard for the principles of equity, justice, and inclusivity threatens the very fabric of Nigeria’s unity. The sustained marginalisation of certain regions breeds resentment, deepens divisions, and could fuel avoidable instability in the country.
“Nigeria is a diverse nation bound by a common destiny. Preserving its unity requires leadership that is fair, inclusive, and guided by the rule of law,” the statement added.
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