So far, there is no doubt that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has impressed many critical stakeholders and Nigerians in the country regarding the recent appointments he made, particularly those he has been working with at the Presidential Villa as SAs and SSAs, in the ministries as well as in the different agencies under Works, Information, Trade and Investment and Health.
There are firm beliefs, and I also believe that the President, being a manager of qualified human resources and a master political strategist, would not in any way make mistakes in the appointment of his aide to man the Office of the Senior Special Adviser to the President on SDGs (OSSAP-SDGs).
This is because of President Tinubu’s resolve to reposition the country for the betterment of citizens and renew Nigerians’ hopes in line with his clear-cut agenda.
In the same view, President Tinubu, as an advocate of merit, justice, fairness and equity, who listens to the voice of reasoning the way he had been doing on various appointments so far, would not hesitate to consider a quiet, cerebral, well-prepared and well-travelled academic from the North to reposition the office for optimal performance.
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For the sake of my readers, let me bring to our attention that the United Nations (UN) and its partners in Nigeria are working towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals – interconnected Goals that address the major development challenges faced by people in Nigeria and around the world.
It should be noted that since the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in September 2015, Nigeria has continued to demonstrate its commitment to achieving the global goals through leadership and ownership of the implementation process but we’re not yet there.
The UN in Nigeria is strengthening its support through provision of technical support to the Office of the Senior Special Adviser to the President on SDGs (OSSAP-SDGs) and line ministries in an effort to ensure that planning and budgeting for development activities in the country are within the framework of the SDGs.
Succinctly, the UN is working closely with the government of Nigeria and other partners in ensuring that the SDGs are efficiently and effectively implemented and that resources are allocated to sectors of the economy that will yield highest dividend for the poor and vulnerable Nigerians.
The northern region of the country leads other regions, according to the 2022 Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), it has the misfortune of having the highest number of people living in poverty, highest number of infant and maternal mortality rates, highest number of out-of-school children, among other development indices.
These challenges are hampering the socio-economic development of the north and the country in general. These are issues the SDGs are addressing, and the global goals depict the deepest needs, yearnings and aspirations of every Nigerian.
Who the OSSAP-SDGs cap fit is someone of northern extraction, who has lived with the people, has a first-hand knowledge of the perplexity of underdevelopment in the region, and will bring to bear his knowledge and expertise as the senior special adviser to the president on the SDGs in the actualization of the SDGs and more poignantly, Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President.
It is time the OSSAP-SDGs is led by someone from the Northern part of Nigeria, a seasoned and resourceful technocrat with great insight on the development of society for human and societal flourishing.
It should be noted that the immediate past Senior Special Assistant to the president on the SDGs was a former Lagos State Deputy Governor. The current Senate committee chairman/Chairperson on the SDGs is from the South West, just as that of the House of Representatives.
President Tinubu had made it abundantly clear that he is President of all, and shall be guided by the constitution in decision making. This includes ensuring that appointments reflect the Principle of Federal Character. No better place can this be accomplished than appointing someone from the North as his Senior Special Assistant on the SDGs.
Idris Olawale, a public affairs analyst writes from Osogbo, Osun State
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