In a bold statement yesterday, Senator Allwell Heacho Onyesoh — chairman of the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs — made it clear: only men and women of unquestionable integrity deserve to run the Federal Character Commission (FCC). And that’s not negotiable.
Onyesoh spoke to journalists in Abuja shortly after his committee screened 38 nominees submitted by President Bola Tinubu. Among those is Hon. (Mrs.) Ayo Hulayat Omidiran, proposed to be FCC Chair.
His message was loud and serious — the FCC is not some consolation prize. It’s central to Nigeria’s fragile balance of equity and unity. He warned that without high-caliber leadership, the commission’s vital role could unravel.
“The Federal Character Commission is pivotal to the unity of this country. It must be led by men and women of integrity who understand the weight of its constitutional mandate,” Onyesoh said. He stressed that the committee won’t flinch: their due diligence has been exhaustive.
Over the course of the screening, the committee subjected every nominee to security clearance — including police fingerprint reports — and cross-checked asset declarations with the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB). They also evaluated whether each candidate understands the gravity of enforcing the federal character principle in government.
Omidiran, the proposed chairman from Osun State, was just one among 38 — the rest are commissioners representing the 36 states plus the FCT.
Why the stress on integrity? Because the FCC is more than window dressing. Its constitutional role is heavy — per Section 14(3) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution, the commission must ensure “no predominance of persons from a few states or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups” in federal appointments.
Beyond appointments, the FCC crafts and enforces the formula for distributing all manner of public resources and posts — from the civil service to security agencies, parastatals, and even infrastructural investments.
Onyesoh didn’t mince words: “The Commission’s work touches the nerve-centre of our federation. It is therefore important that those chosen to lead it … are determined to uphold the values of fairness and national balance.”
Why This Matters
The FCC isn’t just symbolic. According to its founding law and the Constitution, it has teeth — it can prosecute government agencies or officials who violate federal character rules. Without strong, principled leadership, that mandate risks being hollow.
Critics of the FCC often point to its underperformance: despite its constitutional powers, some argue it’s been too weak or politicized to enforce meaningful change. There’s a long history of tension around whether federal character quotas are being genuinely implemented — or just used as political cover.
Senator Onyesoh’s insistence on integrity is a tacit acknowledgment of that problem. He’s signaling that this screening isn’t a formality; the Senate is watching like a hawk — and wants people who won’t bend under pressure.
What’s Next
Onyesoh says the report from his committee will be submitted to the full Senate soon, likely during the next plenary. If the Senate accepts the committee’s assessment, confirmation of Omidiran and the 37 commissioners could follow swiftly.
If they pass, the next big test for these nominees won’t be photo-ops — it’ll be whether they genuinely uphold the FCC’s mandate: to ensure fairness, enforce proportional representation, and hold public bodies accountable.
Bottom Line: The Senate has put down a marker — leadership of the FCC must be more than just loyal; it must be unassailable.