Breaking: My Appointments Based On Merit – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday said all appointments under his administration are strictly based on merit and not on ethnicity or religion.

Buhari stated this during an interview with Arise TV on Thursday.

Prominent people in the country have condemned the President fo allegedly appointing more northerners in strategic positions.

According to Buhari, he said he cannot ignore seniority and merit for balance and federal character.

The Nigerian Constitution states that major appointments and other privileges should be shared in such a way that it reflects Federal Character, that is balanced across the 36 states.

He further stated that he cannot appoint people who have spent shorter years in service over those that have stayed longer.

“People who have been there for 18 years or even for 10 years, they trained in Zaria or in Abeokuta, they come through the ranks.”

“And because they served under all the circumstances, the crises and everything and they gradually rise to that status and you think you just pick somebody just to balance up? These positions have to be earned,” he said.

Meanwhile, the appointment of the new Chief of Army Staff, Yahaya Farouk, contradicts the statement of the President.

Yahaya was appointed by the President over many of his seniors who have more years in service and are now to be forced into retirement.