Gbajabiamila missing as Tinubu’s appointments spark regional imbalance outcry

The Presidency has released a comprehensive list of President Bola Tinubu’s appointments to date in response to growing criticism over alleged regional imbalance in key government positions. The list was made public by Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, and aims to counter claims that the administration has favored the South West region disproportionately. According to the list, the South West accounts for 29 presidential appointees—five more than the 24 initially cited by Dare. Error in the presidency’s list Notably absent from the document is Femi Gbajabiamila, Tinubu’s Chief of Staff and one of his earliest appointees, announced on June 2, 2023. Critics have pointed out that the South East appears underrepresented in the administration. Meanwhile, observers note that a significant number of appointees from the South West, the President’s home region, occupy what are often described as “juicy” or high-profile positions. The release appears to be a direct response to mounting pressure on the Presidency to clarify its stance and approach to national inclusion. “This list is about transparency and setting the record straight,” Dare stated. Checks by Pulse Nigeria confirmed that Dare deleted the earlier list posted on X and admitted to the error on the list. However, no official reason was given for the omission of Gbajabiamila. “We have noticed a number of errors in the list of appointments tweeted. We are sorry. We will provide at an updated list later. Thank you,” Dare appealed to Nigerians on X. We have noticed a number of errors in the list of appointments tweeted. We are sorry. We will provide at an updated list later. Thank you.— Sunday Dare,CON (@SundayDareSD) April 10, 2025 The document has sparked further debate, with analysts urging the administration to be more deliberate about balancing appointments to foster national unity. Full LIST South West: 1. Bosun TijaniMinister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy2. Wale EdunMinister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy3. Bunmi Tunji-OjoMinister of Interior4. Adebayo AdelabuMinister of Power5. Dele AlakeMinister of Solid Minerals Development6. Dr. Jumoke OduwoleMinister of Industry, Trade and Investment7. Adegboyega OyetolaMinister of Marine & Blue Economy8. Olayemi CardosoCBN Governor9. Lieutenant General Taoreed LagbajaChief of Army Staff10. Kayode EgbetokunInspector General of Police11. Zaccheus AdedejiChairman, FIRS12. Adeola AjayiDirector General of the Department of State Services (DSS)13. Bashir Adewale AdeniyiComptroller-General of Customs14. Olanipekun OlukoyedeChairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)15. Kayode Isiak OpeifaManaging Director, Nigeria Railway Corporation16. Oluwasegun FaleyeManaging Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund17. Vincent Olatunji(NSITF)18. Raji Kazeem KolawoleManaging Director /CEO, Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT)19. Bayo OnanugaDirector General, National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI)20. Sunday DareSpecial Adviser on Information and Strategy21. Tope Kolade FasuaSpecial Adviser on Public Communications Orientation22. Peju AdedajoSpecial Adviser to the President on Economic Matters (Office of the VP)23. Temitola Asekunle-JohnsonSenior Special Assistant to the President on Investment & Privatisation (Office of VP)24. Mariam TemitopeSenior Special Assistant to the President, Job Creation & NSMEs (Office of VP)25. Tunde RahmanSenior Special Assistant to the President, Regional Development Programmes26. Moremi OjuduSSAP on Community Engagement27. Tope AjayiSSA, Media and Public Affairs28. Segun DadaSpecial Assistant, Social Media29. Demola OshodiSSA, Protocol North Central: 1. Shuaibu AuduMinister of Steel Development2. Muhammed IdrisMinister of Information3. Zaphanian JisaloMinister of Special Duties4. Lateef FagbemiMinister of Justice5. Joseph UtsevMinister of Water Resources and Sanitation6. Nentawe YilwatdeMinister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction7. Imaan Sulaiman IbrahimMinister of State, Police Affairs8. Aliyu Sabi AbdullahiMinister of State, Agriculture and Food Security9. Bashir Bayo OjulariGMD, NNPC Limited10. Ambassador Mohammed MohammedDirector General, National Intelligence Agency11. Dr. Idris A. SulaimonDirector General, Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC)12. Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi Commandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps13. Engr. Jaji O. Abdulganiyu Controller General of the Federal Fire Service14. Kemi NandapComptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service15. Haruna Y. UsmanChairman, Upper Niger River Basin Development Authority16. Dangajere Shuaibu Bawa Jaja Managing Director, Upper Niger River Basin Development Authority17. Dr. Amos Gizo YaduksoChairman, Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority18. Engr. Ninga TereseManaging Director, Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority19. Abiodun Essiet SSAP on Community Engagement20. Gimba KakandaSenior Special Assistant to the President, Research and Analytics (Office of the VP)21. Isaq Ahmed Ningi,Senior Special Assistant to the President on Digital media & Emergency Management22. Mr. Aliyu Audu,Special Assistant to the President, Public Affairs23. Sen. Ibrahim OloriegeChairman, NHIA24. Tunde Ajibulu,Deputy Executive Secretary (Services), UBEC25. Sunday Sylva Togo Echono Executive Secretary, TETFUND North East: North West: South South: South East: 1. Dr. Doris Anite UzokaMinister of State for Finance2. Bianca OjukwuMinister of State for Foreign Affairs3. Nkeiru OnyejiochaMinister of State for Labour4. Sen. Dave UmahiMinister of Works5. Dr. Uche NnajiMinister of Science and Technology6. Uzoma NwagbaMD, Credicorp7. Rt. Hon. Emeka NdukaManaging Director, Anambra-Imo River Basin Development Authority8. Adesua DozieCompany Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, NNPCL9. Hon. Mark OkoyeMD/CEO, South-East Development Commission (SEDC)10. Philip IkeazorDeputy Governor for Financial System Stability, CBN11. Sophia MbakweExecutive Vice President of Business Services, NNPCL12. Mr. John Ugochukwu Uwajumogu Special Adviser, Industry, Trade and Investment13. Chioma NwezeSSAP on Community Engagement14. Kingsley Stanley Nkwocha SSA to the President, Media and Communication (Office of VP)15. Kingsley UzomaSSA to the President on Agribusiness & Productivity Enhancement (Office of VP)16. Mr. Fredrick NwabufoSSA to the President on Public Engagement