The Federal Government has thrown down the gauntlet, directing the Federal Character Commission (FCC) to step up enforcement of the federal character principle across all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), leaving no room for half-measures.
It stressed that equity, inclusion and citizens’ confidence in governance hang largely on how firmly the commission does its job.
The directive was handed down on Tuesday in Abuja by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, during a two-day induction and sensitisation workshop for members of the FCC’s fifth Board.
Represented by his Senior Technical Adviser, Prof. Babatunde Bernard, Akume described the federal character principle as a constitutional command and a glue holding the nation together, insisting it must be applied “strictly and without compromise.”
“This gathering is both timely and strategic, and I commend the commission for convening it with clarity of purpose and institutional foresight in line with the federal government’s commitment to strengthening governance inclusiveness and promoting effective public institutions ,” he said.
He charged board members to act with objectivity, professionalism and unshakeable loyalty to the constitution, noting that the public’s sense of fairness and justice in governance would be shaped by their actions.
Akume added that the Federal Government expects the commission to sharpen data-driven oversight, deepen transparency and collaborate with key stakeholders to deliver inclusive governance in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda.
Earlier, FCC Chairman, Ayo Omidiran, said the workshop signalled a shift from mere appointment to deliberate service, stressing that the fifth board would not toe the “business as usual” path.
She reaffirmed the commission’s resolve to obey its enabling laws, uphold ethical standards and enforce the federal character principle without fear or favour.
Omidiran described the principle as a stabilising compass for managing Nigeria’s diversity, adding that faithful implementation would strengthen unity, trust and social harmony.
“This induction workshop has therefore been deliberately designed to provide clarity of purpose, shared understanding, and strategic coherence.
“It is meant to remind us why we are here, what the nation expects of us, and the reasons we must carry out our responsibilities with discipline, professionalism, and absolute fidelity to the law, ” she said.
Also speaking, the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, said the FCC occupies a pivotal place in Nigeria’s constitutional framework, noting that national unity is a strategic necessity, not a lofty slogan.
He urged commissioners to strike a careful balance between inclusion and competence, warning that federal character must never be reduced to tokenism or used as a shelter for mediocrity.
In a goodwill message, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on the Federal Character Commission, Mr Ahmed Wase, pledged the National Assembly’s support, urging commissioners to put national interest above personal considerations in the discharge of their duties.
