FCC to sanction govt agencies flouting federal character

The Federal Character Commission has expressed concerns about
what it called “the penchant of some government agencies to bypass
the federal character procedure in their staffing and
appointments.”

The commission, which is a statutory body set up to ensure even
spread of staffing and recruitments into Ministries, Departments
and Agencies to discourage lopsided appointments and promote
national unity, said henceforth any breach of the federal character
principle would be met with appropriate sanctions.

The acting Chairman of the FCC, Abayomi Sheba, a former member
of the House of Representatives, who disclosed this in Abuja on
Saturday, said, “We are no longer going to fold our arms and watch
as some agencies of government recruit with impunity not following
the procedure laid down by the constitution.

“Initially, we were only doing advocacy and walking the soft
path; but now, we are going to wield the big stick on any erring
agency. The reason for which the FCC was set up, which is mainly to
promote the unity of Nigeria and prevent domination, should be
protected by all those who love this country.”

He added, “The commission also has the power to take such legal
measures,

including the prosecution of the heads of staff of any Ministry,
Extra Ministerial Department or Agency, which fails to comply with
any federal character principle or formula prescribed or adopted by
it.”