President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday swore in the new Chairman and 37 Commissioners of the Federal Character Commission (FCC) at the State House, Abuja, marking the start of a new leadership era for the constitutional body charged with promoting fairness in public appointments and resource distribution across Nigeria.
The swearing-in ceremony took place at about 4:48 pm and was attended by senior government officials, including the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake.
The new Chairman of the commission is Mrs Hulayat Omidiran, a former member of the House of Representatives. She took the oath of office alongside commissioners representing the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Omidiran, who is 59 years old, replaces Dr Muheeba Dankaka, whose tenure, according to the Presidency, was “dogged by controversy.” The change in leadership comes at a time when the Federal Character Commission has faced public criticism over alleged imbalance and political influence in federal appointments.
Mrs Omidiran is a well-known politician and administrator from Osun State. She represented Ayedaade/Irewole/Isokan Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives for two terms, from 2011 to 2019. During her time in the National Assembly, she was involved in several committees and was known for her interest in youth development and sports.
She was born in Ikire, Osun State, and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Apart from her legislative career, Omidiran has a strong background in sports administration, especially women’s football.
She previously served as Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Sports and was a board member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). She also chaired the NFF Women’s Football Committee and was a member of the FIFA Women’s Football Committee. In addition, she served on the Board of Trustees of the Nigeria Olympic Committee.
One of her notable achievements is the founding of Omidiran Babes Football Club, a female football team based in Osogbo, Osun State. The club was established in 1997 and is one of the longest-running women’s football teams in the country.
President Tinubu appointed Omidiran as FCC Chairman on August 11, 2025. This came after an earlier announcement on the same day that Dr Dankaka would be reappointed for a second term. The decision to replace Dankaka later that day attracted public attention and debate.
Following her nomination, the Senate confirmed Omidiran’s appointment on November 27, 2025. The confirmation followed statutory processes, including security screening and her appearance before the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs on October 30.
Alongside the Chairman, 37 commissioners were sworn in, each representing a state or the FCT, in line with the federal character principle.
Those inaugurated 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), and Dr Ibrahim Abdullahi (Kwara).
Also sworn in were 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).
Mr Mohammed Musa was appointed and sworn in as Secretary of the commission.
The Federal Character Commission was established by Act No. 34 of 1996 and is also provided for in Sections 14 and 153 of the 1999 Constitution. The commission was created to promote national unity by ensuring that no state or ethnic group dominates public institutions.
Its main duty is to ensure fair and equitable distribution of public posts, appointments, and socio-economic infrastructure among Nigeria’s states and regions. The FCC also develops guidelines for appointments into the civil service, armed forces, police, security agencies, and federal government parastatals.
The commission has the power to monitor compliance with the federal character principle and to take action against heads of government agencies that violate the rules. This includes issuing warnings and recommending sanctions where necessary.
Over the years, the FCC has played a key role in shaping debates about inclusion, balance, and fairness in Nigeria’s diverse society. However, it has also faced challenges, including allegations of political interference, weak enforcement, and lack of transparency.
The inauguration of the new FCC leadership comes under President Tinubu’s administration, which has repeatedly promised fairness, inclusiveness, and national unity. Observers say the new Chairman and commissioners will be judged by how boldly and fairly they enforce the federal character principle.
Many Nigerians expect the commission to address long-standing complaints about imbalance in federal appointments and uneven distribution of government projects. Civil society groups have also called for greater transparency in the commission’s operations.
With a full team now in place, attention will turn to how the FCC under Omidiran’s leadership will respond to these expectations and rebuild public confidence in the institution.