By Paul Effiong
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has tasked the Federal Character Commission (FCC) on equitable distribution of positions in the country to achieve the aim of the commissions` establishment.
Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, Chairman ICPC, made the call on Monday at the opening ceremony of a 2-day training tagged “Organisational Integrity Management Training“, organised by ICPC for board members, and commissioners of FCC.
According to Owasanoye, FCC is a constitutional Federal Executive Body created by the constitution which the founding fathers in their wisdom designed to promote justice and equality.
He added that the commission was also designed to help to close gaps and not to promote corruption, not for the stakeholders in the commission to ask for an entitlement and other self benefits.
“The commission was included in the wisdom of the founding fathers, designed to promote justice and equality and also designed to close gaps, not to promote corruption, not for people to ask for entitlement, that`s not the purpose.
“The aim and its purpose were for good governance and in order to play that role, the commissioners from the starting point must understand what FCC mandate is, “ he said.
He decried that often times Nigerians were complained of uneven sharing of positions and corruption in the commission without FCC`s response through media reports.
He added that the situation had always resulted to tension and complaint of marginalisation among Nigerians.
“The FCC has the duty to work out the equitable formula, subjects to the approval of National Assembly for the distribution of post including positions in governments own companies.
“If we miss the purpose of establishing FCC, if we don’t get it right whatever was the determination of those who put the commission in place, its purpose and that of Nigerians is completely defeated.
“And evidence would be tension and stories of marginalisation, “ he said.
Earlier in his address of welcome, Prof. Babatunde Babawale, Provost, Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria (ACAN) congratulated the Chairman and the board members of FCC for such initiative for the commission.
Babawale assured the FCC members that the ICPC through its ACAN academy had organized such training for other institutions with excellent result, adding that the outcomes of the training would be heart worming.
