President Goodluck Jonathan said on Wednesday in Abuja that his administration would ensure equity and fairness in appointment to political offices and employment into the Federal Civil Service.
The president gave the assurance at the swearing-in ceremony of seven members of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), a member of the Federal Civil Service Commission and two permanent secretaries.
The ceremony took place in the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa before the commencement of the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting.
In a remark shortly after the appointees took the Oath of Office, Jonathan said he had observed that all the geo-political zones complained of being marginalised on federal appointments.
He said that he deliberately delayed some pending political appointments in order to ensure that the complaints of marginalisation already received were taken care of.
“We are in an era where all the geo-political zones complain about marginalisation. All the geo-political zones complain that they are not given appointments. In fact, we have some pending appointments because of that.
“I have told the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to do proper analysis and probably to wait and accumulate the number. Probably if we accumulate them up to 12, when we want to make the appointments, we will make sure that all the geo-political zones get two each.
“In that case, your conscience will be clear. That is why some appointments are pending, which I believe we will deal with this week. I think they are about 12 or so. We will make sure that all the geo-political zones are accommodated.”
Jonathan challenged the newly sworn-in officials, especially members of the FCC not only to be up and doing in their duties, but to also comply with the commission’s establishment statute.