I won’t marginalise any ethnic group – Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday promised to ensure that no section of the country was neglected under his administration.


He added that his administration would continue to work hard to ensure that pensioners get their retirement benefits as and when due.

Jonathan gave the assurance while inaugurating the chairmen and members of the Federal Character Commission and the Pension Commission at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Prof. Oba Abduraheem of Kwara State was inaugurated as the Chairman of FCC for his second term alongside 24 members while Alhaji Adamu Muazu was inaugurated as the Chairman of the PenCom alongside four commissioners.

The President said his administration would work hard to ensure even distribution in appointments and employment among all sections of the country in line with the federal character principle.

He said, “I assure all Nigerians that under my watch, the Federal Government will give no section of the country any cause to feel excluded.

“That is why I hereby restate my administration’s commitment to continue to support the Federal Character Commission in successfully meeting its vital constitutional responsibilities.

“While ensuring even spread in appointments and employment in the country, government is also mindful of the fate of retirees who have served this great nation. It is therefore of paramount importance to this administration that pensioners receive their retirement benefits as and when due.”

The President said the latest appointments were made to strengthen the agencies as part of his administration’s unwavering resolve to reposition critical structures and institutions of governance.

On pension, Jonathan said the negative reports associated with the administration of pension under the old scheme have become an issue of grave national concern.

He said it was in addressing the concern that his administration recently took radical measures to restructure the scheme.

This, he said, included the setting up, as provided by law, the Pension Constitutional Arrangement Department.

He expressed the hope that the board of PenCom would work in synergy with the agency to engender a more robust pension system.