Buhari requests list of appointees, vows to check lopsided appointments

President Muhammadu Buhari has promised to address the complaints of lopsided appointments in his government.

Buhari gave the promise on Friday when he hosted a Christian delegation led by Olasupo Ayokunle, president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), and a Muslim delegation led by Khalid Aliyu, secretary-general of Jama’atu Nasril Islam, at the presidential villa in Abuja.

Ayokunle had told the president to look into the allegation, saying it could create a wrong impression.

“In the recently released statistics of appointments made by this administration so far, there was apparent lopsidedness because while some states have over thirty people appointed, others do not have more than three,” he had said.

“How can people from such states with three have the sense of belonging to this nation and this administration?”

In his response, the president told the CAN delegation that he had already given instructions for the submission of all the names of heads of parastatals in order to address the allegation.

“On the question of one-sided appointments, we will look at it. I have given instructions that a list of all heads of parastatals be submitted to me and I know they will not delay in doing that,’’ he said.

Buhari said his administration would ensure reform of the police and judiciary, describing both institutions as critical for the security and stability of the nation.

“There is no way we can be comfortable in our country unless we are lucky to have a good police force and judiciary,” he said.

“We need a good police force and judiciary to really maintain the legitimacy and the confidence of the populace in governance.”

On the fight against corruption, the president assured both CAN and the JNI leaders that his administration would always be guided by the rule of law and constitutionality in prosecuting all those accused of corruption.

Buhari explained to the JNI delegation that corruption in the country had taken a cultural dimension, urging all religious leaders and Nigerians to join in the fight in order to reverse the trend.

“When something becomes a culture, it is more difficult to stop, but collectively we will prevail,’’ he assured the leaders.