Uphold Federal Character principle without compromising merit

Mr Shettima Abba, the Executive Chairman, Federal Character Commission, has urged Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to uphold the Federal Character Principle while recruiting personnel without compromising merit.

Abba made the call during a visit to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

He said that the aim of the visit was to partner with NAN in enlightening MDAs and the general public on federal character principles, which he observed that many Nigerians were unaware of.

According to him, the mandate of the commission is being misunderstood and enlightening Nigerians on them is a way of moving the country forward.

He explained that one of the mandates of the commission was to ensure that agencies of government had equitable representation of all the states of the federation and in particular, fair representation of women in staff recruitment.

Abba emphasised that organisations should ensure that staff were employed based on qualification and not just to fulfil geopolitical representation.

He said that in a situation where a state was not represented and the individual contesting for the post was not qualified, it was incumbent on an organisation to recruit or to appoint such a person.

The acting chairman further said that if federal character principles were adhered to, Nigeria would have achieved a great milestone whereby any Nigerian could work anywhere, the geopolitical zone notwithstanding.

“Nigerians should understand that this is a country that in the next 20 to 30 years, we would not need federal character and anyone can work in any state irrespective of where he comes from.

“I always make reference to Lagos State as the new Nigeria because you have people who are not Lagosians, from other states being employed in the civil service.

“They see themselves as Nigerians and that is what matters the most.’’

He said that the second mandate of the commission which was of great concern, was to ensure even distribution of infrastructures and social amenities among the geopolitical zones.

According to him, the commission looks at structures that the Federal Government must provide in each state, to ensure even distribution in every part of the country.

Responding, Mr Jones Afolabi, the acting Managing Director, NAN, said that the agency was ready to partner with the commission and ensure that its mandates were communicated to the public.

Afolabi said that NAN contributes at about 80 per cent to 90 per cent of media content in the country.

He said that with offices in all states of the federation and abroad, NAN was well positioned to communicate all activities and enlightenment programmes of the commission effectively to the public.

He said that the partnership would help in correcting the wrong impression about commission in the minds of the public and that such cooperation would benefit both organisations.