By Christiana Ekpa
The House of Representatives on Tuesday passed through second reading, Federal Character Commission (FCC) amendment Bill.
The Bill, titled “a bill for ‘An Act to Amend the Federal Character Commission (Establishment Etc) Act, 2004 seeks to make the Appointment of the Chairman and Secretary from Different Regions of the Country to Reflect the Principle of Federal Character’,
Leading the debate on the general principles of the bill, Hon. Unyime Idem (PDP-Akwa-Ibom) said it was meant to reflect the principle of federal character, adding that the bill made provision for appointment of the FCC Chairman and Secretary from different parts of the country to reflect the principle of federal character.
He said the bill which was read for the first time on July 15, 2021 sought among other things to put in place a legal framework and guide for the presidential appointment of the two key positions of the commission.
He said the commission was primarily established with to promote, monitor and enforce compliance with the principles of sharing all bureaucratic, economic, media and political posts at all levels of government.
He said the bill sought to amend the provision of the act to reinstate the position that the two critical positions to be appointed by the president should be mandatorily from each region of the country.
This according to him would be for the effective running and administration of the objectives of setting up of the commission.
The lawmaker while given the highlight of the bill said, “this Bill has an amendment of a Section of about two subsections which are vital and significant to the management and effective administration of the objectives of the commission.
The Bill seek to amend Section 9 of the Principal Act for effective administration of the objectives of the commission and equitable distribution of the key positions in the agency.
The lawmaker while providing insight into the general principles said Section 9 (1) of the Principal Act is amended by adding paragraph (c) to the provisions therein as a new paragraph under subsection (1) to read as follows: –
“9 (1) (c). The President shall put into consideration in the appointment of the Secretary that the positions of the Secretary and the Chairman appointed for the Commission shall not be from the same region of the Country in compliance with the principles of Federal Character”.
He said it would help in equitable distribution of the key positions in the commission.
