Brig-General Idada - Review Jonathan’s last minute appointments

FORMER Provost Marshal of the Nigerian Army, Brig-General Idada Ikpomnwen, yesterday, admonished President Muhammadu Buhari to review what he described as the last minute appointments made by former President Goodluck Jonathan, saying that such appointments infringe on the president’s powers to appoint capable individuals who will drive his reform processes.

Idada said: “It is inherent in the presidential system and by the clear wordings of our constitution, that the president is empowered to appoint aides who share his ideas and philosophy to various executive positions in order to efficiently carry out the all-important but herculean task of running government and in turn deliver the dividend of democracy to the people who elected him into office.

“The point has also been made that the powers of any head or member of any national executive body flow from the president and as such all political appointees work for the president and must, therefore, hold office essentially at the president’s pleasure.

 It has also been posited that since the tenure of the president is four years as provided for under section 135(2) of the constitution, which is same as other political appointees, it is worrisome and indeed unacceptable that political appointees under sections 153(1) and 171 (2) (b),(c),and (d) are clothed with five years tenure which is beyond the tenure of the president who appointed them.

“The idea of making political appointments with tenure of over four years should not be countenanced in our system.

Consequent upon  the above arguments, it will not be inappropriate for the current administration to dissolve all such boards and appointments spilling over from the previous administration.”