The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has expressed disappointment at the board appointments recently made by President Muhammadu Buhari which contained names of dead persons and duplication of names. The group also urged the president to withdraw the list in order to remove a clear and recognisable danger to the integrity of these bodies.



SERAP also admonished the president to allow the civil service systems carry out the appointments.



The appointments of 209 board chairpersons and 1,258 board members were announced on Friday. PREMIUM TIMES reported some of the controversies surrounding the appointments such as the inclusion of dead persons and the duplication of same names on different boards.



Among the dead persons appointed is Christopher Utov who was appointed a member of Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research. Mr. Utov, the proprietor of Fidei Polytechnic, Gboko, died on March 17.



Others include Donald Ugbaja who was appointed a member of the Consumer Protection Council, CPC. Mr. Ugbaja, a former deputy inspector general of police, died on November 29, 2017.



The presidency on Saturday tried to explain the inclusion of the dead persons, saying the list was compiled in 2015.
In a statement signed by its deputy director, Timothy Adewale, SERAP said appointing at least eight dead people as board members would seem to suggest that the 1,467 appointments approved by the president were unscreened for competence and merit.



“Going ahead with these appointments would neither advance due process nor Buhari’s oft-expressed commitment to prevent and combat corruption. It would create a lack of trust and confidence among the general public.



“Withdrawing the appointments and directing and allowing the civil service systems to follow due process to reappoint chairpersons and members to the boards of these agencies and parastatals would bring the government’s practices and operations into conformity with Nigeria’s international anticorruption obligations, particularly the UN Convention against Corruption. Nigeria has ratified the convention.”



The organisation further urged Mr. Buhari to ensure that appointments are transparent and based on merit, adding that a merit-appointment system would produce a better qualified board, and ultimately improve the governance architecture and access of Nigerians to essential public services.



“It should be the practice of this government to make board appointments on the basis of ability, and not because of political influence or connection,” it said.



Similarly, a former minister of education and leader of Bring Back Our Girls movement, Oby Ezekwesili, has expressed her reaction to the controversial board appointments.



Ms. Ezekwesili, in a series of tweets on her verified Twitter handle, expressed disappointment at the presidency for releasing such list as well as defending the errors contained in the list.



“Some “mistakes” are simply indefensible. Who is that defending that a significant # (2, 3 or 4? Which? ) of dead people are on an appointment list of the FG .@AsoRock that the President, @MBuhari signed off on? Haba. This is the height of what Feyi calls, “anyhowness”. #Tragic,” she stated.



While urging the presidency to show penitence in its activities, she said, “There is a Golden Rule in Strategic Communication of Policy where you are advised to “own the fiasco….eat the humble pie….. show penitence….. ride the storm…. avoid any braggadocio….just pray the media & public show mercy & move on.”



Below are reactions of other Nigerians to the presidency’s goof.



it's pure incompetence. A simple question should have been asked 'this list is over a year old, who died'? Yes no one asked
— Sadiq Farouk (@sadiqlagos)
December 30, 2017




I agree with u absolutely…there should have simply been a review of the list before publication – this is gross negligence
— Mfrekeobong Ukpanah (@MfrekeUkpanah)
December 31, 2017



I was shocked to see such a thing defended so confidently. There's no such thing as nobility in the leadership of this country.
— OSINAYA, O. A. (@tobeks001)
December 31, 2017



And a media aid is bold enough to inform us that the list was compiled in 2015 – perhaps by someone from the world beyond too?
Anything surely can happen here in Nija
— Michael Adekunle O. (@adesegun61)
December 30, 2017



This is nothing but acute display of idiocy, an insanity that require urgent purging..
— GBENRO DON TEE (@wonuolagbenro)
December 30, 2017




My own is this: Let
@MBuhari replace the dead appointees with dynamic youths like Me. And see if we won't add color to his administration. It could even be a propaganda strategy to receive forgiveness for his errors. We have youths that can do this.
— ONYEDIKACHI O AKOMA (@DIKAOLIVER)
December 30, 2017



This is normal to this present administration of incompetency and laziness. If a budgets that is supposed to be handled by professionals has mistakes why will ordinary list not have? God Bless Nigeria.
— Timothy Atori (@AtoriTimothy)
December 30, 2017



More than @MBuhari I am afraid of this entire presidency clan. Genetically and Mentally Mutated People. The Entire
@AsoRock Ecosystem Mutates.
— Iamthe_Mogul (@WumiMogul)
December 31, 2017




https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/254071-serap-ezekwesili-others-react-buharis-controversial-board-appointments.html



https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/254071-serap-ezekwesili-others-react-buharis-controversial-board-appointments.html

the SA on Political Matters, aides & others involved in this SNAFU should be fired or given strong reprimands.



at the level of the Presidency, such mistakes should not be made or condoned.


but it also shows the caliber of careless & lazy aides pmb has surrounded himself with, which goes to show that pmb himself is a careless & lazy 'ruler' whose sole reason for vying for the coveted position is to answer 'president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria'...


anyway, same pmb personally signed a document where his name was wrongly spelt...

This government have moved from one bungling to the other. Even mundane issues are messed up. The integrity of that list is suspect. It should be withdrawn and re-published

I will vote buhari in 2019 as a payback 2 those who voted him in 2015, una think say na only una wicked abi? Una go see shege! lolz

Some peoplr will come out to say that it shows that buhari is fighting corruption. Lets wait

The so called appointments still kept on showing the super-cluelessness of the people in power in the country.

This is what happens when the president makes appointment based on list given to him by the cabal without confirming whether the people on the list are alive and are competent.

unuane1:
I will vote buhari in 2019 as a payback 2 those who voted him in 2015, una think say na only una wicked abi? Una go see shege! lolz

Kudos! At this rate in 2019, expect names like oduduwa, bayagidda to make appointments list.

The brain dead and his automated mumus have taken their foolery to the dead denying them of peaceful rest.
Where in the world are dead people appointed to head boards?

Even majority of the appointed living ones are misfits.
Cross check the list and see for yourself people who are like Fashola, a lawyer heading power sector.

Due to various reason with the Higher education in Nigeria
Nigerian student have been trooping into the Philippines for their university studies in thousands!!!!
1. Nigerians are required to apply for visas and as of today pay an application fee of 15000naira which goes into the Philippines account.

2. They have to authenticate their documents at the foreign affairs in Manila, Philippines WHICH COST alot of money and in turn helps the Philippines economy

3. Various other things they have to pay for when they arrive , to study in the Philippines which means the Philippines is also benefiting from the Nigerians.

The Nigerians are treated like Animals at the Philippines embassy in Gwarimpa Abuja, Nigeria
The gate men at the Philippines embassy Abuja Nigeria have the audacity to ask for bribes from citizens that obviously do not know their right. A gate man has no right to even look at your documents!

There is a lady also who is supposed to check for documents but instead abuse the Nigerians who go to the embassy. she calls them all sorts of names.
Her job is just to check the documents!!!!!

please I'M not here to questions about why Nigerians go to study in the Philippines but to be in the shoes of the Nigerian who are treated badly at the embassy

I went there myself just to understand the complains I have received. i personally do not need a visa to go to the Philippines but my attention was called on this, and i would like to get people to share their experience to please drop a message here so that people can be aware in Nigeria about what Nigerians are experiencing at the Philippines embassy Abuja Nigeria!!!.

it is the right of every human being to be treated well and respected and this case should be treated seriously


Thank you. please share this and post if you have ever been affected or heard anything about this


Kindly rebroadcast!!

I know bubu media cow (BMC) will avoid this thread

Ok

Paperwhite:
The so called appointments still kept on showing the superl-cluelessness of the people in power in the country.

When you think you've seen the height of cluelessness the dullardss in Aso rock, will show you new heights of cluelessness...


They just keep dragging the country to a new low on a daily, government without sense of purpose or direction...SMH

nnachukz:
The brain dead and his automated mumus have taken their foolery to the dead denying them of peaceful rest.
Where in the world are dead people appointed to head boards?

Even majority of the appointed living ones are misfits.
Cross check the list and see for yourself people who are like Fashola, a lawyer heading power sector.

Have you forgotten that those dead guys were Nigerians when they were alive, hence it's Buhari's responsibility to ensure they are well catered for in his government...


Atleast if the living can not enjoy anything tangible from the father of cluelessness the dead should not be denied...


My grandson will have a whole lot of bedtime story, since this would not the last of this foolery...SMH

ivandragon:
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has expressed disappointment at the board appointments recently made by President Muhammadu Buhari which contained names of dead persons and duplication of names. The group also urged the president to withdraw the list in order to remove a clear and recognisable danger to the integrity of these bodies.



SERAP also admonished the president to allow the civil service systems carry out the appointments.



The appointments of 209 board chairpersons and 1,258 board members were announced on Friday. PREMIUM TIMES reported some of the controversies surrounding the appointments such as the inclusion of dead persons and the duplication of same names on different boards.



Among the dead persons appointed is Christopher Utov who was appointed a member of Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research. Mr. Utov, the proprietor of Fidei Polytechnic, Gboko, died on March 17.



Others include Donald Ugbaja who was appointed a member of the Consumer Protection Council, CPC. Mr. Ugbaja, a former deputy inspector general of police, died on November 29, 2017.



The presidency on Saturday tried to explain the inclusion of the dead persons, saying the list was compiled in 2015.
In a statement signed by its deputy director, Timothy Adewale, SERAP said appointing at least eight dead people as board members would seem to suggest that the 1,467 appointments approved by the president were unscreened for competence and merit.



“Going ahead with these appointments would neither advance due process nor Buhari’s oft-expressed commitment to prevent and combat corruption. It would create a lack of trust and confidence among the general public.



“Withdrawing the appointments and directing and allowing the civil service systems to follow due process to reappoint chairpersons and members to the boards of these agencies and parastatals would bring the government’s practices and operations into conformity with Nigeria’s international anticorruption obligations, particularly the UN Convention against Corruption. Nigeria has ratified the convention.”



The organisation further urged Mr. Buhari to ensure that appointments are transparent and based on merit, adding that a merit-appointment system would produce a better qualified board, and ultimately improve the governance architecture and access of Nigerians to essential public services.



“It should be the practice of this government to make board appointments on the basis of ability, and not because of political influence or connection,” it said.



Similarly, a former minister of education and leader of Bring Back Our Girls movement, Oby Ezekwesili, has expressed her reaction to the controversial board appointments.



Ms. Ezekwesili, in a series of tweets on her verified Twitter handle, expressed disappointment at the presidency for releasing such list as well as defending the errors contained in the list.



“Some “mistakes” are simply indefensible. Who is that defending that a significant # (2, 3 or 4? Which? ) of dead people are on an appointment list of the FG .@AsoRock that the President, @MBuhari signed off on? Haba. This is the height of what Feyi calls, “anyhowness”. #Tragic,” she stated.



While urging the presidency to show penitence in its activities, she said, “There is a Golden Rule in Strategic Communication of Policy where you are advised to “own the fiasco….eat the humble pie….. show penitence….. ride the storm…. avoid any braggadocio….just pray the media & public show mercy & move on.”



Below are reactions of other Nigerians to the presidency’s goof.



it's pure incompetence. A simple question should have been asked 'this list is over a year old, who died'? Yes no one asked
— Sadiq Farouk (@sadiqlagos)
December 30, 2017




I agree with u absolutely…there should have simply been a review of the list before publication – this is gross negligence
— Mfrekeobong Ukpanah (@MfrekeUkpanah)
December 31, 2017



I was shocked to see such a thing defended so confidently. There's no such thing as nobility in the leadership of this country.
— OSINAYA, O. A. (@tobeks001)
December 31, 2017



And a media aid is bold enough to inform us that the list was compiled in 2015 – perhaps by someone from the world beyond too?
Anything surely can happen here in Nija
— Michael Adekunle O. (@adesegun61)
December 30, 2017



This is nothing but acute display of idiocy, an insanity that require urgent purging..
— GBENRO DON TEE (@wonuolagbenro)
December 30, 2017




My own is this: Let
@MBuhari replace the dead appointees with dynamic youths like Me. And see if we won't add color to his administration. It could even be a propaganda strategy to receive forgiveness for his errors. We have youths that can do this.
— ONYEDIKACHI O AKOMA (@DIKAOLIVER)
December 30, 2017



This is normal to this present administration of incompetency and laziness. If a budgets that is supposed to be handled by professionals has mistakes why will ordinary list not have? God Bless Nigeria.
— Timothy Atori (@AtoriTimothy)
December 30, 2017



More than @MBuhari I am afraid of this entire presidency clan. Genetically and Mentally Mutated People. The Entire
@AsoRock Ecosystem Mutates.
— Iamthe_Mogul (@WumiMogul)
December 31, 2017




https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/254071-serap-ezekwesili-others-react-buharis-controversial-board-appointments.html



https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/254071-serap-ezekwesili-others-react-buharis-controversial-board-appointments.html

I feel sorry for Oby, Ministerial appointment came she was not there, Ambassadorial appointment came she was not appointed, now board appointment is here, she still not on the list, after all the campaign for Buhari and against GEJ.

Its really sad she is being left out, she was one of the persons that gave credibility to PMB candidacy, but was left out of the scheme of things, i feel sorry for her, maybe she could be recommend for a CTC Charlady in her LGA, because which other appointments are left, except there is a cabinet change.

fitzmayowa:




Have you forgotten that those dead guys were Nigerians when they were alive, hence it's Buhari's responsibility to ensure they are well catered for in his government...


Atleast if the living can not enjoy anything tangible from the father of cluelessness the dead should not be denied...


My grandson will have a whole lot of bedtime story, since this would not the last of this foolery...SMH

Abi o. Let the dead enjoy what the living can't enjoy.

PMB, the dead has got to rest in peace o...

No disturbing the dead anymore

PMB, the dead has got to rest in peace o...

No disturbing the dead anymore

Nothing wrong here.


If you scrutinize the list of voters for the APC government, you will find names of dead people. So what is wrong in giving political appointments to that constituency that supported Buhari in making up his 97%?