Group Tasks Buhari On Sanctity Of Tenured Appointments

SAN FRANCISCO, June 01, (THEWILL) – President Muhammadu Buhari has been advised to allow appointees currently serving in tenured sensitive positions to continue in office especially if they are effective in their portfolios.

The group advised the new President against arbitrarily removing appointees whose terms are backed by law, and are yet to expire, saying that doing so would become a huge distraction to the new government that has tons of problems and challenges that require immediate solutions.

In a statement issued in Lagos, Nigeria, on Monday, the Good Governance and Accountability Initiative, said President Buhari must rebuff pressures from members of his political party and vested interests, who are angling for a quick piece of the national cake at the expense of stability and growth of the economy.

Instead, the group said President Buhari should employ due diligence in appointments into sensitive federal boards, agencies and parastatals in order to maintain the integrity of the laudable growth and improvements recorded in some of the sectors.

“This President and his political party were elected because Nigerians bought into their message of “Change.” The change Nigerians are demanding is positive change in governance that will enhance living standards and improve wellbeing of citizens.

“President Buhari should not cave to pressure and hastily sack appointees of boards and federal government run agencies without allowing due diligence and process to run its full course. This would allow the President have key data to know what areas to make amends so that the growth and successes recorded there are sustained and not lost,” the group said in a statement signed by Prince Ibrahim Aliyu, its Executive Secretary.

The group, which also commended the political class for a successful transition from the ruling party to the opposition, particularly thanked former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, for accepting defeat and saving the nation from the brink of crisis, and also congratulated President Buhari on his historic victory and inauguration as President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.