Mohammed Bello Tukur, the Secretary to the Federal Character Commission (FCC), on Monday, officially resigned from his position after serving for seven years and nine months.
He was appointed in March 2017 by President Muhammadu Buhari for a four-year tenure and was reappointed in 2021, extending his service until 2025.
According to information gathered from the commission by The Guardian in Abuja, Tukur, who hails from Taraba State in the North-East zone, was re-appointed for a second tenure despite being contrary to the principle of federal character as enshrined in its governing Act.
This is because both Tukur and the Chairman of the Commission are from the same geopolitical zone, contrary to the principle of equitable representation.
FCC, for some years, have been on the negative report for violating the laws that set it up, which is why Nigerians believe it has been unable to perform it’s duties as required by law.
This newspaper recalls The AUTHORITY Newspapers publishing several reports since 2016 exposing how the FCC had been operating in violation of its enabling Act., often having its Chairman and secretary from either the same geo-political zone, or from the northern parts of the country at the same time.
The FCC principle mandates the equitable distribution of leadership roles among Nigeria’s geopolitical zones to ensure inclusivity and fairness in federal appointments and employment.
Following Tukur’s resignation, Dr. Chuks Okoli, the FCC’s Director of Public Affairs and Communication, has been appointed Acting Secretary.
His appointment, effective Monday, December 16, 2024, will remain in place until a substantive Secretary is named.
The Federal Character Commission, as mandated by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, continues to play a critical role as the custodian of federal character, ensuring that all federal agencies and parastatals comply with its provisions to promote fairness and equity across the nation.
