Abdulwasiu Bawa-Allah, the Lagos State representative in the Federal Character Commission, has come out to counter growing criticism over the alleged lopsided nature of federal appointments under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
In a recent appearance on Arise Prime Time from 07:05, Bawa-Allah boldly declared, “Let me read the percentages by zones: 55% of appointments are from the North.” This statement came in response to claims by Senator Ali Ndume, who accused the president of favoring the Southwest in key appointments and violating the federal character principle.
Bawa-Allah, while defending the Tinubu-led government, presented what he called “the real data” showing the regional distribution of appointments as of March. According to him, the North Central has 21%, the North East 14%, and the North West 20%, totaling 55%. On the other hand, the South East accounts for 11%, the South South 12%, and the South West 22%, summing up to 45%.
“These are the facts, and facts are sacred,” Bawa-Allah insisted during the broadcast. He argued that rather than skewing appointments, the Tinubu administration is actually working to correct imbalances inherited from the previous government.
His comments arrive amid rising political tension and public concern over federal inclusivity. Senator Ndume, one of the more vocal Northern lawmakers, had pointed to the concentration of economic leadership roles—including positions at the CBN, FIRS, and NNPC—being in the hands of individuals from the Southwest.
Bawa-Allah acknowledged that some sectors may appear skewed, but emphasized that appointments are made across various ministries and agencies—not just economic ones. “We are not only talking about FIRS or CBN. We are talking about education, health, housing, and others,” he said.
He further noted that the Federal Character Commission is actively engaged with the presidency to ensure appointments are balanced going forward. “We’ve written to Mr. President, we are monitoring, and we’ll continue to ensure compliance,” he assured.
Bawa-Allah also threw a subtle jab at critics, questioning why some political figures only raise federal character concerns when they are not benefiting. “Where were these voices when both the chairman and secretary of the commission were from the North during the last administration?” he asked.
The debate over equitable representation in government may not be new, but Ba Allah’s figures have added a statistical twist to the ongoing political discourse.
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