Aside the reported inclusion of dead persons in the list of 1, 468 persons appointed as Board Chairmen and members by the Federal Government, there are indications that non members of the All Progressive Congress, APC made the list.
An online news platform, PREMIUM TIMES had reported that there were duplication and appointments of individuals that are no longer in the ruling APC. But the Presidency has reacted to such claims saying there was nothing scandalous about the list
Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President was quoted to have said “ “ ‘the list has a history’ which explains the controversy around it.”
“In 2015, Mr. President requested all state chapters of the party to submit names of 50 party members for board appointments,” Mr. Shehu said.
He stated that the names were initially compiled by the APC national secretariat and forwarded to the then Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir David Lawal.
“However, a complaint arose from some governors who felt they have not carried along in the process. To answer this, the president constituted a committee under the vice president to review and reflect the interest of the governors.” He said
The media aide said the action was delayed on the report of the committee headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as President Muhammadu Buhari took ill.
“The president’s trips for medical attention slowed down completion of the process,” he said, until when Mr. Buhari decided to revisit the matter recently.”
“The current SGF was only directed to complete that process by releasing the list which he apparently did without altering it,” Mr. Shehu explained.”
Mr. Shehu admitted that errors were committed but added that “no human undertaking can be free of mistakes”.
He said the errors identified with the list were not enough to describe the exercise as scandalous, insisting that “there is no scandal”.
The spokesperson said all errors in the list would be corrected.
