President Bola Tinubu on Thursday swore in the Chairman and Commissioners of the Federal Character Commission at the State House, Abuja.

The new FCC Chairman, Hulayat Omidiran, took the oath of office alongside 37 commissioners representing the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory at about 4:48 pm.

Omidiran, 59, a former two-term member of the House of Representatives who represented Ayedaade/Irewole/Isokan Federal Constituency of Osun State from 2011 to 2019, succeeds Dr Muheeba Dankaka, whose tenure the Presidency described as “dogged by controversy.”

The Ikire-born politician holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and has experience in legislative and sports administration.

She previously served as Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Sports and held positions including board membership of the Nigeria Football Federation, Chairperson of the NFF Women’s Football Committee, membership of the FIFA Women’s Football Committee and service on the Board of Trustees of the Nigeria Olympic Committee.

Omidiran is also the founder of Omidiran Babes Football Club, a female football club based in Osogbo, Osun State, established in 1997.

Tinubu appointed her on August 11, 2025, after initially announcing the reappointment of Dankaka for a second term earlier the same day.

The Senate confirmed her appointment on November 27, 2025, following statutory vetting processes, including security screening and her appearance before the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs on October 30.

Mohammed Musa was also appointed as Secretary of the commission.

Those sworn in as commissioners include Peter Eze (Enugu), AbdulWasiu Bawalla (Lagos), Obinna Oriaku (Abia), Lawal Roni (Jigawa), Abubakar Bunu (Kebbi), Eludayo Eluyemi (Osun), Bema Madayi (Adamawa), Dora Ebong (Akwa Ibom), Nnoli Gloria (Anambra) and Babangida Gwana (Bauchi).

Others are Sir Tonye Okio (Bayelsa), Aligba Tarkende (Benue), Modu Mustapha (Borno), Dr. Stella Ekpo (Cross River), Ederin Idisi (Delta), Nwokpor Vincent Nduka (Ebonyi), Victor Sabor Edoror (Edo), Sola Fokanle (Ekiti), Ibrahim Baba Mairiga (Gombe), Jerry Alagbaoso (Imo), Ruth Ango (Kaduna), Muhammad Awwal Nayya (Kano), Anas Isah (Katsina), Bello Idris Eneye (Kogi), Dr. Ibrahim Abdullahi (Kwara), Kayode Oladele (Ogun), Isah Jibrin (Niger), Ajimudu Bola (Ondo), Prince Ayodeji Abas Aleshinloye (Oyo), Pam Bolman (Plateau), Aaron Chukwuemeka (Rivers), Aminu Tambar (Sokoto), Bobboi Kaigama (Taraba), Jibir Maigari (Yobe), Sani Garba (Zamfara), and Solomon Dagami (FCT).

The Federal Character Commission, established by Act No. 34 of 1996 and enshrined in Sections 14 and 153 of the 1999 Constitution, is mandated to ensure fair distribution of public posts and socio-economic infrastructure among Nigeria’s federating units.

It Is empowered to formulate equitable guidelines for appointments into the civil and public service, security agencies and government parastatals, and to sanction heads of agencies that violate the federal character principle.

The ceremony was attended by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, and other senior officials. (The PUNCH)

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