The Presidency has officially unveiled a comprehensive list detailing President Bola Tinubu’s appointments since assuming office, revealing significant disparities in the distribution across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
According to the document released by Sunday Dare, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, the administration has made a total of 152 high-profile appointments, with 85 positions allocated to the northern region and 67 to the southern part of the country.
A closer examination of the appointments shows that the North West zone secured the highest number with 36 appointments, followed by the South West with 29 positions. The North Central received 25 appointments, while the North East got 24 slots in the administration.
In the southern region, the South South clinched 22 appointments, with the South East recording the lowest number at just 16 positions, raising concerns about equitable representation across all zones of the federation.
The South West’s prominent appointees include Olayemi Cardoso as CBN Governor, Wale Edun as Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, and Jumoke Oduwole as Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment. The region also secured key security positions with Kayode Egbetokun as Inspector General of Police and Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja as Chief of Army Staff.
From the North West, notable appointments include Mohammed Badaru Abubakar as Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa as Chief of Defence Staff, and Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar as Chief of Air Staff. The zone also produced Aminu Maida as Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission.
The North Central’s prominent appointees include Lateef Fagbemi as Minister of Justice, Bashir Bayo Ojulari as Group Managing Director of NNPC Limited, and Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed as Director General of the National Intelligence Agency.
The North East secured influential positions such as Nuhu Ribadu as National Security Adviser, Yusuf Tuggar as Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Muhammad Ali Pate as Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare.
In the South South, key appointments include Nyesom Wike as Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla as Chief of Naval Staff, and Festus Keyamo as Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development.
The South East’s appointments include Senator Dave Umahi as Minister of Works, Doris Anite Uzoka as Minister of State for Finance, and Bianca Ojukwu as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
Political analysts have begun examining these appointments for insights into President Tinubu’s governance approach and commitment to Nigeria’s federal character principle, which emphasizes equitable representation across the country’s diverse regions.
The administration has yet to comment on the numerical disparities revealed in the appointment distribution, though supporters point to the quality and strategic importance of positions rather than mere quantity as the true measure of regional representation.
As the president continues to shape his administration, observers note that future appointments may address any perceived imbalances, with several key positions in government agencies and parastatals still pending.