The Presidency has responded to growing concerns about the fairness of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s federal appointments, revealing that the North has received 71 appointments while the South has gotten 63 under the current administration.
This clarification came from the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Mr. Sunday Dare, who made the announcement via his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Tuesday. He said the figures are proof that President Tinubu is committed to fairness and national unity, despite what critics have been saying.
According to Dare, the ongoing conversation about a perceived imbalance in federal appointments does not reflect the true picture of the administration’s actions. He insisted that the President is working to ensure a balanced and inclusive government that represents all parts of Nigeria.
“People tend to isolate new appointments so far made by the President and examine them with a tribal lens,” Dare said. “But it is too early to conclude that appointments are lopsided. Tinubu has barely completed two years in office and there are still plenty more appointments coming.”
The Presidency also provided a more detailed breakdown of the appointments from the southern region. Out of the 63 southern appointments:
– The South-West got the highest number with 26 appointees.
– The South-South followed with 21 appointees.
– The South-East had 16 appointees.
This suggests a spread of appointments within the South, although it also reveals some imbalance among the southern zones. No further breakdown was provided for the northern zones, but the total figure stands at 71.
The issue of regional representation in federal appointments has remained a sensitive topic in Nigeria’s political landscape. Many citizens and groups have accused successive governments of favouring certain regions over others, leading to feelings of marginalisation and calls for restructuring.
Since assuming office in May 2023, President Tinubu has faced criticism, especially from groups in the South-East and parts of the North-Central, who feel they have not been adequately represented in top government positions.
However, the Presidency says these concerns are premature and not based on a full view of the appointments made so far.
“As President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains the same man who is not blinded by the cloak of tribe or religion,” Dare said.
He pointed to Tinubu’s time as Governor of Lagos State, where he appointed people from different parts of Nigeria into his cabinet. According to Dare, this shows that the President values competence over ethnicity or religion.
Mr. Dare urged Nigerians to be patient and allow the President more time to deliver on his promise of inclusive governance. He said there are still “plenty more appointments coming,” and that future nominations would reflect the Federal Character principle as stated in Nigeria’s Constitution.
The Federal Character principle is a constitutional guideline that ensures equitable representation of different ethnic, religious, and regional groups in government appointments and institutions. It was introduced to promote unity and prevent domination of one group over others.
“A more expansive and unbiased analysis would show that the Tinubu administration is on the right path with respect to federal character and national inclusion,” Dare added.
President Tinubu, a former Governor of Lagos State (1999–2007), is known for building political alliances across Nigeria’s regions. He played a major role in the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the ruling party that brought President Muhammadu Buhari to power in 2015.
When he contested the 2023 presidential election, Tinubu campaigned on a platform of unity, economic reform, and improved security. His slogan, “Renewed Hope,” was meant to signal a new beginning for the country after years of hardship and division.
But since taking office, he has had to deal with economic challenges, inflation, rising cost of living, and growing insecurity, which have affected his popularity, especially among the youth.
Despite these issues, Tinubu has continued to build his cabinet and appoint heads of agencies, special advisers, and other top officials across various sectors.
Nigerians have expressed mixed reactions to the figures released by the Presidency. While some believe the numbers show a relatively balanced approach to appointments, others say the government must do more to ensure that all regions feel equally represented.
A political analyst, Mr. Charles Ikenna, told [Newspaper Name] that while the figures might look close, the quality and influence of the appointments also matter.
“It’s not just about numbers. We also have to look at the weight of the positions given — who controls the major ministries, agencies, and parastatals? That is where real power lies,” Ikenna said.
Others have urged the President to make more efforts to include women, youths, and persons with disabilities in top government roles.
