Federal Character Commission assures of fairness, balance in its operations

By Jude Opara, Abuja

The Acting Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Hon. Kayode Oladele has assured that the Commission will continue to uphold the principle of equity and balance in the discharge of its activities.

Hon. Oladele who spoke at a press conference on Thursday in Abuja said the agency is not only bound by law, but also by moral responsibility and the principles of equity, justice and inclusiveness in the distribution of positions to reflect the federal nature of the country.

He also stressed the need for a mutual and collaborative working relationship with the media, saying they are pivotal to the efforts of the federal government in providing for the needs of the people.

“Fairness, balance and national integration are the basics of the work of the commission. We must have a collaborative engagement with the media with the need to report objectively on issues of employment and job distribution.

“The Federal Character Commission, as enshrined in Section 153(1)(c) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, was established to promote fairness, inclusiveness, and national unity by ensuring that appointments, employment, and distribution of infrastructure by the Federal Government are conducted in a manner that reflects the plural nature of our federation.

“Our mission is to give every Nigerian regardless of state, ethnicity, or religion a sense of belonging in the national space. This is not just a constitutional obligation; it is a moral imperative”.

“Sharing accurate data and working to enhance national interest is of utmost importance. The FCC stands ready to promote justice, equity and national cohesion. Every Nigerian irrespective of tribe and creed will be taken care of”.

However, the FCC boss also regretted that in most cases, the Commission is blamed for even things that have nothing to do with them, especially when it has to do with issues of employment and distribution of positions.

“There is also this public perception that the Commission does not follow due process in doing things. At times the Commission is blamed even for what it knows nothing about.

“Poor funding is another challenge we are having, our allocation is not enough for the Commission to execute its activities. For instance, last year we had a budgetary allocation of about N6 billion but our overhead took over N5. 3 billion Naira. But I am happy that the federal government is looking into the challenges of the FCC”.

Hon. Oladele also expressed his happiness that he is serving under the administration of President Bola Tinubu, whom he described as a good leader who has a listening ear and interested in the welfare of citizens.

He reiterated the resolution of the Commission in mandating all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to forward their norminal roll, so as to enable them check the balancing in appointments as well as character index balancing.