By Mercy Gadia Adi
The Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs has screened 38 nominees for appointment as Chairman and Commissioners of the Federal Character Commission (FCC).
The screening exercise, held on Thursday, was presided over by the Committee Chairman, Senator Allwell Heacho Onyesoh (Rivers East). The nominees were referred to the committee following a request from the President seeking Senate confirmation of their appointments. The referral was announced during plenary on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, and documented in the Senate Votes and Proceedings of the same day.
As part of the Senate’s standard confirmation process, the committee conducted detailed assessments of all nominees. These included security vetting, police fingerprint checks, and verification of asset declarations with the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB). The committee also evaluated each nominee’s competence and readiness to uphold the principles of fairness, equity, and inclusiveness as mandated by the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Among the nominees screened was Hon. (Mrs.) Ayo Hulayat Omidiran from Osun State, who was nominated to serve as Chairman of the Federal Character Commission, alongside 37 nominees representing various states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
Speaking with journalists after the screening, Senator Onyesoh described the exercise as smooth and successful. He said the committee had executed its mandate with diligence and would present its report to the Senate for consideration and confirmation in the coming days.
“The committee has diligently carried out its mandate and will submit its report to the Senate for further legislative action,” he said.
Senator Onyesoh emphasized the strategic role of the FCC in ensuring equitable representation in federal appointments and in fostering national cohesion through balanced distribution of resources. He noted that the committee’s work aligns with the Senate’s commitment to sustaining fairness across all federal institutions.
The committee’s report is expected to be laid before the Senate soon for final confirmation of the nominees.