Public appointments should be based on competence – PRP chieftain

A presidential aspirant and chieftain of the Peoples Redemption Party, Yakubu Kingsley, has said public appointments should be based on competence, integrity and accountability rather than ethnicity, religion, political affiliation or personal loyalty.

Kingsley said the principle should guide the appointment of public officials while ensuring equitable representation of different regions, communities, genders and generations in government.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the former PRP presidential aspirant said, “The new direction for the country should mean combining competence with equitable representation, integrity and accountability.

“The guiding principle should be simple: Merit, Integrity, Representation, Transparency and Accountability,” he said.

He emphasized that competence must remain a fundamental criterion for public appointments, while ensuring that no geographic region, state, community, gender, or generation is systematically excluded from participating in national affairs.

He advocated for the transparent and measurable implementation of the Federal Character principle in governance structures.

"The Federal Character principle must transcend its role as a constitutional provision cited during political discourse; it must evolve into a transparent and measurable mechanism of governance," Kingsley stated.

He put forward a framework for public appointments that would permit Nigerians to evaluate the geographic, professional, and other aspects of representation within government institutions.

In his view, such a mechanism would serve to diminish political disputes and reciprocal accusations concerning appointment decisions.

Kingsley further contended that inclusive representation should extend beyond governmental appointments to encompass policymaking and engagement with diverse segments of society.

He identified political parties, professional associations, religious institutions, customary authorities, civil society organizations, educational institutions, labor unions, commercial enterprises, women's organizations, youth groups, individuals with disabilities, Nigerians residing abroad, and community associations as stakeholders whose perspectives warrant consideration in matters of national development.

“Inclusion has to go beyond appointments. While government must remain constitutionally neutral, particularly in matters of religion and partisan politics, it must maintain structured channels for consultation with these constituencies and draw from their knowledge, experience and reach,” he said.

He said governance should involve broader consultation with different groups so they could contribute to policymaking, monitor implementation and provide feedback.

“Governance must not be confined to Abuja or to the political class. Government must listen to the people they serve, who experience the consequences of its decisions,” he added

Kingsley said the principle of inclusion should also apply to communities where Nigeria’s natural resources are extracted.

“Nigeria belongs to us all; therefore, the government must reflect that reality. The country is a nation of remarkable ethnic, cultural, religious, professional, political and regional diversity.

“Legitimate interests must have voices and Nigerians must have fair opportunity to contribute to the development of the nation,” he said.

He argued that communities where petroleum, gas and solid minerals are extracted should have a greater stake in development arising from those resources.