Former Senator Shehu Sani advised President Bola Tinubu to avoid nepotism in appointing heads of key government agencies, emphasizing merit-based selections to rebuild public trust, during a keynote address at a Kaduna governance summit on April 15, 2025, per The Punch.
Sani, a vocal critic of favoritism, cited recent controversies over appointments in the Central Bank of Nigeria and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, where 60% of senior roles since 2023 went to Tinubu’s Lagos allies, per Vanguard’s analysis of federal records.
“Leadership must reflect competence, not connections,” Sani said, warning that nepotism fuels Nigeria’s 33% unemployment rate and public discontent, per NBS 2024 data. He praised Tinubu’s $25 billion infrastructure fund but urged transparency in its oversight, per Pulse NG.
The summit, attended by 500 delegates, follows Tinubu’s March 2024 approval of the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Fund, domiciled in the presidency, per Punch. Sani’s remarks echo calls from the PDP, which claims 70% of APC appointments favor southwest loyalists, per ThisDay, though Tinubu’s aides insist selections prioritize expertise. Nigeria’s 220 million population demands accountability, Sani stressed, as 2027 elections loom.