The Federal Character Commission (FCC) has warned Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) that any recruitment, promotion or personnel-related exercise conducted without its involvement will attract sanctions.
The warning was issued on Tuesday during an interactive meeting between the FCC Committee on Works, Transport and Aviation and the management of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
Chairman of the committee and Federal Commissioner representing Enugu State, Hon. Peter Eze, said the Commission was strengthening its oversight role by adopting a more proactive approach to enforcing the Federal Character Principle as provided in the Constitution.
According to him, the Commission has identified gaps in recruitment, promotions and personnel management across government agencies and will no longer tolerate non-compliance.
He stressed that all future recruitment and promotion exercises must involve the FCC, warning that agencies that fail to comply would face appropriate sanctions.
Eze, however, commended the Nigerian Railway Corporation for embracing the Commission’s renewed oversight efforts and expressed confidence that both organisations would work together to ensure compliance with the Federal Character Principle.
He also disclosed that the FCC would collaborate with the corporation to review its nominal roll to ensure future recruitment reflects equitable representation of all states.
Responding, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, welcomed the engagement, describing it as timely and beneficial.
He reaffirmed the corporation’s commitment to complying with constitutional provisions on the Federal Character Principle and pledged continued collaboration with the Commission while leveraging technology to improve railway operations.
Also speaking, the Executive Chairman of the FCC, Hon. Hulayat Motunrayo Omidiran, said the Commission’s preference was to achieve compliance through dialogue and collaboration rather than punishment.
She, however, warned that agencies that deliberately violate the Federal Character Principle would be sanctioned in line with constitutional provisions.
Omidiran further disclosed that the Commission has streamlined its approval process, enabling complete applications to receive approval on the same day as part of ongoing reforms to improve efficiency and service delivery.
