NAN-H-66
Appointment
By Lydia Ngwakwe
Lagos, Oct. 28, 2016 (NAN) Some politicians on Friday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that those considered for political appointments were pre-informed before the news got into public glare.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the politicians were reacting to recent rejection of federal appointments by some nominees.
Prof. Oluremi Sonaiya, the 2015 Presidential Candidate of the KOWA Party, said the normal thing was to have a discussion with the appointee.
“Of course, the normal, courteous and respectful thing to do is to first interact with anyone you want to appoint into a position.
“It is not everyone that is waiting to jump at any appointment. Also, there might be personal constraints which might make it impossible for a person to take up an appointment,” Sonaiya said.
Alhaji Yahaya Ndu, the National Chairman of a political group, Peoples Movement for a New Nigeria, also spoke in the same vein.
“It does not show seriousness to appoint people into positions without first informing them. Governance is a serious business.
“If I were the president of Nigeria, if I wish to appoint a minister for tourism , for instance, l will invite all those I consider suitable for the position and interview them thoroughly.
“From there, I would choose the best and the runners up would be in advisory positions to him or her.
“My government would be based on merit and excellence, not nepotism and partisanship,” Ndu said.
Mr Denis Aghanya, Executive Secretary of Anti-Corruption and Research Based Data Initiative (ARDI), also suggested that nominees should be informed of such offers before the news would be brought to public glare.
He, however, said that turning down of offer of appointments by some persons under the current dispensation speaks volume of Mr President’s transparency and style of selection.
According to Aghanya, whether such offer was turned down is immaterial.
“As part of the fight against corruption, political appointments should purely be on merit as is currently done – a total deviation from the old practices when appointments were based on cash and carry.
“The president has taking a bold and positive step, other arms of governments at both state and local government levels should key into this laudable innovation,” Aghanya said.
However, Alhaji Musa Umar, APC Chieftain in Kano State, did not agree that appointees should be pre-informed about the offers.
“Appointment into a federal position is the prerogative of the President; in the same vein, state governors appoint members of their cabinet.
“In the history of such appointments in Nigeria, beneficiaries are, in most cases not informed,” Umar said. (NAN)
LED/BOLA/IGO
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Edited by Bola Akingbehin/Ijeoma/ Popoola