President Bola Tinubu’s recent wave of political appointments has reignited national debate, not just about the constitutional federal character principle, but whether it still serves its purpose in promoting equity, unity, and competence in Nigeria’s governance.

Development Diaries reports that the Special Advisor to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, had released a list showing the appointments made so far by President Tinubu from the six geopolitical zones of the country.

It is understood that the list was in response to Senator Ali Ndume’s criticism of the president for allegedly violating the federal character principle in his appointments.

Not long after the list was released, the presidential spokesperson retracted it and apologised after the omission of major appointees was noticed, including the president’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.

While the principle of federal character exists to ensure inclusiveness in governance, the most important thing should be picking capable and qualified individuals.

Interestingly, the presidency’s response, through the release of a list by Dare, aimed to address criticism but instead worsened the situation.

The chief of staff and other important individuals were left out, and the apologies that followed revealed a lack of thoroughness and openness in the administration’s communications.

This indicates that the president’s media team needs to be more transparent in its response to criticism, as this development could worsen citizens’ distrust in government’s actions.

That said, while ethnic and regional representation is important in a multi-ethnic society like Nigeria, it should not override merit, competence, and the capacity to deliver results.

President Tinubu needs to ensure that appointments reflect a vision of inclusive excellence, one that values diverse backgrounds but ultimately selects individuals based on their ability to serve the nation effectively.

Ethnic balancing, if pursued without regard for capability, can lead to inefficiency and further erode citizens’ confidence in governance.

Development Diaries calls on President Tinubu to adopt a transparent, merit-driven approach in appointing individuals to key positions.

While equity and fairness should guide selection, they must be harmonised with competence and a clear commitment to national development.