National Assembly.” The Northern elders said the South already had advantage over the North in terms of the number of federal civil servants, a situation it said meant that the south would enjoy allocations for recurrent votes.
The forum further contended: “We wish to draw Mr. President’s attention to the fact that over 75 percent of all Federal Government public service employees are from the three geo-political zones in the South. This means that virtually the same percentage of recurrent spending will go to Nigerians from the South.” On the government structure, the verdict of the NEF was damning.
The forum described Buhari’s team as weak, urging him to immediately establish an Economic Management Team. The group wrote: “We have noted the need for improvements in the human and institutional capabilities which aid Mr. President in governing the nation.
As economic difficulties and demands for good governance become more challenging, the quality of advice and support Mr. President will require will need to be substantially raised. “We urge Mr. President to establish an Economic Management Team and conclude Appointments of key officers and advisers. Where there are evident weaknesses and gaps in skills, competencies, experience and integrity, we urge Mr. President to take steps to address them.”
On national security, NEF urged President Buhari to look into allegations that Boko Haram “still has substantial presence in many areas near Maiduguri and other towns and villages.” The elders called for measures that would help improve the “quality of intelligence and integrity of the leadership of the Armed Forces.” Focusing specifically on what it called the threat posed by IPOB to national security,
the forum said: “We commend Mr President’s stand and disposition towards the threats posed by the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and advise that in addition to allowing full weight of the law to be deployed against these threats, Mr. President should support initiatives which isolate this threat among Igbo people”.
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