Chris Ngige, the Minister of Labour and Employment, has
dismissed claims of the Federal Government marginalizing the Southeast.
Ngige insisted that the Southeast has equal representation
at the Federal Executive Council, FEC, like other regions of the country.
The minister, who rubbished claims of lopsided appointment
by the Buhari-led government, insisted that Igbos have enjoyed key appointments
in the past.
He spoke at an emergency stakeholders meeting of the
Association of Eze Ndigbo in the 19 Northern States and Abuja during the
weekend.
Ngige, however, noted some of those in the FEC do not
understand how the government works.
The minister insisted that the Southeast have produced an
Inspector General of Police, IGP, Chief of Army Staff, Secretary to the Government
of the Federal among other key positions in the past.
He said: “We are in the Federal Executive Council (FEC),
which is composed of a minister per state.
“But we have one extra ministerial slot. So, the South East
is effectively represented to ensure justice is done to the region.
“People can say that we are not honoured with appointments
of Inspector-General of Police, Chief of Army Staff and Secretary to the
Federal Government (SGF). These are positions we have enjoyed before in
Nigeria.
“Southeast produced two Inspectors-General of Police (IGPs),
Ogbonnaya Onovo and Mike Okiro. We had an SGF, Senator Pius Anyim. We also
produced four Senate Presidents. Twice we produced Deputy Senate President and
Deputy Speaker, Ike Ekweremadu and Emeka Ihedioha respectively.”
He noted that those named above were in charge of federal
budgets” for eight years.
Ngige stressed that the talk about the Southeast being
marginalized in the area of “appointments” was a “matter of perception.”
“A lot of them don’t understand how government works. A lot
of them don’t understand that I, as a member of FEC can influence things that
will come to my State, my zone or any other area and where we think things
should be sited or done in Nigeria,” he added.
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