Jonathan: Integrity, meritocracy key to Nigeria’s progress

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has stressed the paramount importance of integrity and meritocracy in leadership appointments, asserting that Nigeria cannot achieve meaningful progress when competence is overlooked in favor of personal connections. Jonathan made these remarks on Tuesday during an event celebrating the retirement of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack.

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No nation can make meaningful progress when competence is sacrificed for relationships.

Jonathan lauded President Bola Tinubu for appointing Walson-Jack, the first person from Bayelsa State to hold the position of Head of the Civil Service. He described her appointment as a significant achievement, particularly because the role demands merit rather than rotation. "That appointment makes her the first Bayelsan to hold that office... And it is not that you rotate the offices; there’s a lot of merit required," Jonathan stated.

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That appointment makes her the first Bayelsan to hold that office... And it is not that you rotate the offices; there’s a lot of merit required.

Drawing parallels with Singapore's transformation under former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, Jonathan cited integrity and meritocracy as the driving forces behind the nation's success. He advocated for zero tolerance for corruption and a system where individuals must earn their positions based on merit, irrespective of relationships. "If integrity and merit are not considered, especially leadership of the country, if you compromise merit, then you can’t go anywhere. You must use the right people for the right thing," he advised.

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First, integrity. Zero tolerance for corruption. The second one was meritocracy. It doesn’t look at anybody; it has nothing to do with relationships.

Using a biological analogy, Jonathan cautioned against assigning roles to individuals lacking the necessary competence. He illustrated that just as a cat cannot perform the duties of a lion, people must be placed in positions suited to their abilities. "So, you must give the job of a lion to a lion, and the job of a cat to a cat. And when you mix it, forget about your country; it can’t go anywhere," he warned. He also recognized Walson-Jack's career as a testament to perseverance and merit, noting her progression from the Bayelsa State Civil Service to the Federal Civil Service.

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If integrity and merit are not considered, especially leadership of the country, if you compromise merit, then you can’t go anywhere. You must use the right people for the right thing.