By Mercy Gadia Adi
The Acting Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Hon. Kayode Oladele, has called for a strategic partnership with the National Assembly to enhance the enforcement of fairness, equity, and inclusivity in public appointments and resource distribution across Nigeria.
Speaking during a courtesy visit to the House of Representatives Committee on Federal Character at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja on Tuesday, Oladele emphasized the need for synergy between both bodies.
“Our mandates are aligned in promoting national cohesion and preventing marginalization,” Oladele said in his opening remarks. “It is imperative that we work together to institutionalize fairness and equity in all facets of governance.”
Oladele, who recently assumed leadership of the Commission, told lawmakers that he inherited an institution grappling with internal challenges, including low staff morale and waning public trust.
“We must rebuild the Commission’s internal structures and restore confidence among Nigerians, this is critical to effectively implementing the federal character principle and ensuring compliance across over 700 MDAs,”he said.
He also pledged to align the Commission’s reforms with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda”, stressing that equity and inclusion are central to the administration’s vision.
“No part of Nigeria must feel excluded in the allocation of opportunities and resources,” he stated.
A former lawmaker himself, Oladele emphasized that collaboration with the National Assembly would enhance transparency and accountability, reducing tensions arising from perceived ethnic or regional marginalization.
“Together, we can strengthen oversight and ensure fairness is not seen as a favour, but a right guaranteed, protected, and actualized.”
During the session, Oladele outlined the FCC’s major challenges, chief among them being inadequate fundind, which he said hampers effective monitoring and enforcement.
“Without adequate funding, we cannot fulfill our statutory mandate to audit recruitment and resource allocation across federal and state institutions,” he warned.
He appealed to the lawmakers for budgetary support, particularly to develop digital compliance tools that would streamline recruitment audits and nationwide monitoring.
“We seek your assistance to develop systems that ensure seamless enforcement, adding that a tech-driven approach would foster transparency and accountability.
Additionally, he proposed stringent legislative reforms to grant the Commission greater enforcement powers and called for joint capacity-building initiatives with the legislature.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Character, Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase, in his response emphasized that the Committee is committed to addressing inefficiencies in the system—starting with the FCC itself.
“We have seen too many irregularities that do not serve the interest of the country. We must draw a line and begin to do the right thing,” he noted.
He urged the FCC to be specific with its reform agenda and to identify key priorities.
“You must define your reform roadmap clearly so we can assist in shaping impactful legislation,” Wase advised.
While recognizing the Commission’s operational and funding challenges, he called on its leadership to demonstrate greater firmness, particularly in enforcement and legal compliance, stating that the FCC possesses far-reaching powers that have yet to be fully exercised.
“Your powers are more than those of the EFCC—except you are not asserting them. When EFCC shows up, the financial sector shivers. That’s the level of authority we expect you to exert in upholding the federal character principle.”
Chairman emphasized the critical role the Commission plays in fostering national unity, fairness, and inclusion. He reiterated that the Committee will support any necessary legislative efforts to strengthen the Commission.
“If it’s a bill or amendment you need, bring it forward. We will co-sponsor it. What we want is a transparent and constitutional
process to move this country forward,” he noted.