By Angela Atabo
The Nigerians in Diaspora Merit and Compliance Foundation (NDMCF), has criticised calls for appointments into key national institutions, including the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), to be based on alphabetical zoning of states rather than merit.
The foundation made its position known in a statement signed by its Country Director, Dr Sani Usman and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.
The foundation described the calls as flawed and inimical to meritocracy, excellence and inclusive national development, warning that substituting competence with arbitrary criteria would undermine institutional effectiveness and national progress.
According to the foundation, prioritising zoning arrangements such as alphabetical sequencing over merit weakens public institutions and erodes governance standards.
“Alphabetical sequencing is an administrative convenience, not a governance philosophy, and it has no place in determining leadership of institutions entrusted with safeguarding Nigeria’s fiscal sovereignty,” Usman added
He stated that the position of the foundation had been consistent with its mandate to promote integrity, meritocracy and compliance with legal and ethical standards in public administration.
It said that the principles of federal character and regional balance had already been sufficiently addressed through the appointment of one Executive Director from each of the six geopolitical zones.
NDMCF through Usman, commended President Bola Tinubu for his commitment to national inclusion and institutional competence through the appointment of qualified professionals drawn from all regions of the country.
The foundation described suggestions that competence should be subordinated to alphabetical rotation as regressive and inconsistent with modern public administration, especially after constitutional and political balancing considerations had been met.
It stressed that the Nigeria Revenue Service, as the apex institution responsible for revenue mobilisation, compliance and enforcement, required leadership with high levels of competence, experience and integrity.
It said,“To subordinate merit, professional depth, gender balance and institutional continuity to alphabetical order is to deliberately weaken state capacity.”
NDMCF further expressed concern over reports suggesting that a provision mandating alphabetical rotation did not exist in the version of the Bill assented to by the President.
It warned that if such reports were true, it would raise serious concerns about the integrity of the legislative process and the sanctity of the rule of law.
The foundation called on the National Assembly to urgently clarify the matter and expunge any such provision, if it existed, in order to preserve institutional effectiveness and legislative credibility.
Reaffirming its commitment to systems that reward merit, hard work and competence, NDMCF cautioned against confusing equity with arbitrariness.
“Federal character and inclusion were never intended to negate merit but to ensure fairness alongside competence,” the group said.
The foundation insisted that Nigeria required strong institutions led by capable professionals, selected on the basis of competence and integrity, rather than zoning arrangements based on alphabetical order. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani
