Mediocrity

Much of the country’s stasis can be traced to a lack of meritocracy that permeates the public and private sectors. An ingrained system that prizes seniority, gender, tribe, religion and party affiliation, over the skills of individuals is also contributing to our lack of economic progress. Political appointments frequently give precedence to party loyalty, religious and tribal affiliations, and favoritism, overshadowing the importance of competence and skill. The Federal Character program, originally intended to ensure diversity, has unfortunately been exploited, compromising merit-based principles. This practice often bypasses highly qualified and skilled individuals in favor of those with preferred connections.

Our nation is blessed with an abundance of talent spanning our 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and the 774 Local Government Areas. In every one of the six political zones, there is an impressive pool of competent individuals. This diverse array of talents and skills is more than adequate for staffing and managing both our economy and government, with a focus on ensuring that each state or region is represented in proportion to its contribution of talent.

In response to this, my administration will implement a series of policy reforms aimed specifically at addressing the problem of mediocrity that has long plagued our nation.

Implement “Employment on Merit” Policy: The practice of basing employment on factors like nativism, nepotism, tribal affiliation, religion, seniority, gender, status, or political party connections will come to an end. Under this new mandate, employment in any sector will be solely determined by qualifications, ensuring that only the most competent and qualified individuals are recruited.

Base All Federal Appointments on Merit: The federal character protocol will be supplanted by a system prioritizing merit, ensuring national roles are allocated based purely on capability and expertise.

Outlaw Employment Discrimination: My administration is committed to introducing and rigorously enforcing legislation that prohibits employment discrimination on any ground. We will ensure that anyone facing such discrimination is fully supported by the power of the government and the legal system.

Abolish Economic Parochialism: Economic nativism will be outlawed, ensuring that employment opportunities are not exclusively reserved for the native population of a particular state or district. We will guarantee that every qualified Nigerian, regardless of their state of origin, has an equal opportunity for employment across the country. No individual will face discrimination in recruitment processes simply because they are not an indigene of the state where the job is located. This federal law will take precedence over any state or local laws concerning this matter.