The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has claimed that some federal appointments made by President Bola Tinubu since assuming office in 2023, were unfair, unequal, and excluded some geopolitical zones.
Spokesperson of the Forum, Professor Abubakar Jiddere, in a statement on Friday in Abuja, said these appointments have overwhelmingly favoured the South-West region of the country to the detriment of other five geopolitical zones.
The Forum 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).
NEF added 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.
Particularly, the Forum condemned the recent composition of the National Census Committee, which it alleged was not only grossly lopsided in favour of the South-West, but also appears to be systematically designed to exclude other key regions.
NEF, in the statement described the exclusion as 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,” it said.
Consequently, NEF demands the immediate reconstitution of the National Census Committee to ensure equal representation of all six geopolitical zones in line with the federal character principle.
It also demanded, “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 statement warned that continued disregard for the principles of equity, justice, and inclusivity threatens the very fabric of Nigeria’s unity.
“The sustained marginalization of certain regions breeds resentment, deepens divisions, and could fuel avoidable instability in the country,” it added.
NEF noted that Nigeria is a diverse nation bound by a common destiny, saying that preserving its unity requires leadership that is fair, inclusive, and guided by the rule of law.
