Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has dismissed allegations of imbalance in President Bola Tinubu’s appointments, asserting the administration’s firm commitment to fairness, equity, and national cohesion.
Akume’s remarks, delivered on Friday, come in the wake of criticisms by Senator Ali Ndume, who had accused the President of breaching constitutional provisions in the distribution of federal appointments, particularly with regard to the Northeast region.
In response, the SGF emphasized that all appointments made by the Tinubu administration align with the constitutional requirement for federal character.
“All appointments under the current administration led by President Tinubu are made in strict adherence to Federal Character Principle, as enshrined in Section 14 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as Altered),” Akume said in a statement.
He maintained that President Tinubu “is a strong adherent of the unity of Nigeria and is guided by the ideals of fairness and tenets of justice in all appointments.”
Akume further stressed the administration’s commitment to inclusiveness.
“It is against this backdrop that the administration is dedicated to ensuring that all regions and demographics of the country are adequately represented in its institutions and agencies,” he stated.
His comments follow the release of a detailed breakdown of appointments by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, who outlined the spread of appointments across Nigeria’s six geo-political zones.
To counter growing criticism, Akume called on citizens to ignore misinformation and instead rely on official channels.
“Pokers of embers of hate and disunity who carry tendentious and unfounded allegations should never be taken seriously by Nigerians,” he noted.
He urged the public to verify any inquiries regarding appointments through his office. According to the statement signed by his Director of Information and Public Relations, Segun Imohiosen, “inquiries with respect to appointments should be channeled through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, which is the official custodian of such actions.”
Akume reaffirmed that the government remains “steadfast in its pursuit of a prosperous, united and equitable Nigeria, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of this administration.”
