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Oyo, Osun commissioners restate FCC’s commitment to avert lopsidedness
The Federal Character Commission (FCC) on Thursday restated its commitment to averting lopsidedness.
It was also stated that the FCC was established to promote , monitor and enforce strict compliance with the guiding principles and formulae designed to ensure proportional sharing of all bureaucratic, economic, media and political posts at all levels of government ditto for socio- economic amenities and infrastructural.
The Commission’s Commissioners representing Oyo and Osun states, Professor Adeniyi Olowofela and Barrister Abdulrazak Âdeoye said this during a courtesy visit to the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS) in Ibadan.
In their separate remarks, the federal commissioners said the Commission’s core aim was to avert lopsidedness, thus “the basis whereby when MDAs want to employ they come to us, we look at their list and we ensure compliance”.
They maintained that the FCC had successfully worked out equitable formulae for the distribution of all cadres of posts in the public services of the federation, state, local government and government owned companies, parastatals and agencies, adding that the commission was further mandated by the constitution to take legal measures against any individual, federal or state ministry, local government or government agency which fails to comply with the guiding principles and formulae prescribed or adopted by it.
According to Prof. Olowofela, the FCC was empowered to demand and receive returns on employment and socio-economic indices from any government enterprise or body, corporate and penalize any enterprise which does not comply with a request from the commission. The ex-Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology and former council gaffer of Ido Local Government also disclosed that the commission has devises a committee system to effectively monitor the implementation of its guidelines and formulae for the distribution of posts and socio-economic amenities amongst the federating units.
“We were created to avert lopsidedness. There is virtually no agency that wants to give people job that will not invite us at the FCC. The basis for inviting us is to ensure that the principle is followed. By and large, the commission is hopeful that whenever fresh recruitments are being made in your establishment, you would inform us accordingly for the statutory monitoring of the recruitment exercise. The monitoring exercise would give ample opportunities to candidates, especially those from under represented LGAs to fill their vacant slots, there by reducing whatever imbalances that may exist in the distribution of posts in your Broadcasting Corporation”, he said.
Olowofela, however solicited for the corporation’s support and cooperation for the implementation of the FCC principles so as to collectively achieve a strong, united and economically formidable state and nation of our dream.
Also commenting, the FCC Commissioner representing Osun state, Barrister Adeoye maintained that the FCC was a creation of the Military’s Decree 34 of 1996 following the yearnings of the people for correction of imbalances in the distribution of posts in the public services of the federation as well as Social and Economic facilities.
Adeoye informed that the commission was one of the fourteen independent federal executive bodies established by section 153 of the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended. He stressed that its composition, functions and powers are as prescribed by the constitution and amplified by the Federal Character Commission Act Cap F7 LFN 2004.
“It is important to state that this particular commission was established with the aim of making this executive body independent, and answerable only to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”, he emphasized.
Speaking further, Barrister Adeoye noted that the Southwest have always been having misdemeanor lopsidedness. He explained that there are parameters which the FCC has set for every state of the federation, urging the region to take active steps whenever there is any recruitment exercise (s)
The Osun FCC Commissioner harped on the need for the people of Southwest to be sensitized, advising them to report any imbalance to the states’ representatives.
Responding, Mr Dotun Oyelade , the Executive Chairman of the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS) who was represented by its General Manager, Mr. Tunde Ajayi assured the FCC of the corporation’s support.
” For us at BCOS, we have the consciousness that will need to uphold the unity of Nigeria”, he added.
The Kano State House of Assembly has initiated impeachment proceedings against Deputy Governor Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo over allegations of gross misconduct, abuse of office, and breach of public trust.
The notice was presented yesterday during plenary by the Majority Leader, Lawan Hussaini Dala, who said the action follows Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Dala said the allegations stem from Abdussalam’s tenure as Commissioner for Local Government (2023–2024) and his current role as deputy governor. He accused the deputy governor of diverting funds meant for the 44 local government councils.
According to the majority leader, Abdussalam allegedly received N1.5 million monthly from each council between June 2023 and January 2024, totaling N462 million. Between February and July 2024, he allegedly collected N3.255 million monthly from each council under the guise of special assignments, amounting to N726 million.
Dala also accused the deputy governor of abuse of office, claiming he facilitated payments of N10 million from each council to NovoMed Pharmaceuticals Limited, totaling N440 million, in violation of state procurement laws.
“The misuse of official capacity to confer undue advantage constitutes abuse of power and undermines public trust,” Dala told lawmakers, adding that the allegations amount to gross misconduct under the Constitution.
The impeachment notice was reportedly endorsed by 38 lawmakers, meeting the constitutional threshold to proceed. The Speaker has acknowledged receipt, and the House is expected to serve the allegations on the deputy governor.
If approved, a panel may be constituted by the state Chief Judge to investigate the claims.
As of filing, Abdussalam had yet to respond publicly to the allegations.
The Senator representing Bayelsa West, Seriake Dickson, on Thursday announced his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), declaring that he had joined the newly registered Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
Dickson, a former governor of Bayelsa State, made the announcement during a media briefing in Abuja, attributing his decision to what he described as irreconcilable differences within the PDP.
The lawmaker said the emergence of the NDC would strengthen Nigeria’s democratic system by providing a credible opposition platform.
According to him, the party recently received its certificate of registration from the Independent National Electoral Commission.
He said, “Last week INEC issued a certificate of registration and we now have the newest party in Nigeria known as the Nigeria Democratic Congress and our symbol is victory, the victory sign.
“So, my dear Nigerians, you now have a credible alternative opposition party known as the Nigeria Democratic Congress.”
Dickson noted that although the party’s registration took longer than expected, its eventual approval was a welcome development for the country’s democratic landscape.
“Yes, it is coming at this time. We would have wished it started some years or months back. We don’t control INEC and their processes; they delayed. We don’t also control the judiciary, but thank God it has finally arrived,” he said.
The senator also stressed that Nigeria’s democracy must not slide into a one-party system, insisting that political diversity remained vital for national stability.
“This nation cannot be a one-party state. Nigeria cannot be a one-party state. Nigeria is not designed to be a one-party state.
“We are a very diverse nation culturally, religiously and politically and that is the beauty of our country.
“So anyone or any party promoting one-party rule in Nigeria is mistaken. We build political parties and get involved in movements to access power for the good of the people, not for our personal benefit,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission recently announced the registration of two new political parties.
The parties are the Democratic Leadership Alliance and the Nigeria Democratic Congress, bringing the total number of registered political parties in Nigeria to 21.
The announcement was made by the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, during the commission’s first quarterly consultative meeting with political party stakeholders for 2026.
According to him, the Democratic Leadership Alliance completed the required verification process, while the Nigeria Democratic Congress was registered in compliance with a Federal High Court order.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 58-year-old alleged drug lord, Uzoma Valentine Ilomuanya, who had reportedly been on the agency’s wanted list and that of British authorities for over 15 years.
Ilomuanya was apprehended in Lagos on Monday, February 23, 2026, following what the agency described as a high-level, coordinated operation by officers of its Special Operations Unit.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Director of Media and Advocacy of the agency, Femi Babafemi.
Babafemi said the suspect’s arrest ended a prolonged manhunt linked to his alleged involvement in drug trafficking activities across Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
According to the statement, Ilomuanya was first arrested in February 2003 in the United Kingdom and convicted for drug trafficking.
He was sentenced to nine years imprisonment but was released after serving two years following a successful appeal.
Babafemi added that the suspect was again arrested in the UK in July 2011 over drug-related offences.
He said, “He was granted administrative bail but jumped jurisdiction and fled to Nigeria.
“Typical of a recidivist, Ilomuanya was in November 2018 arrested in Nigeria by NDLEA operatives following the discovery of two clandestine methamphetamine laboratories in his Obinugwu, Orlu Local Government Area country home in Imo State and at his No. 3 Barrister Declan Uzoma Close, Lagos residence where officers recovered 77.960 kilograms of methamphetamine and extensive production equipment.
“He was subsequently charged before a Federal High Court in Lagos, after which he jumped court bail and has been on the run since then.”
Reacting to the development, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), described the arrest as a major breakthrough in the agency’s ongoing war against drug trafficking networks.
Marwa said the operation demonstrated the agency’s resolve to track down criminal elements regardless of how long they evade the law.
He said, “This arrest serves as a stern warning to those who think they can hide behind borders to escape justice.
“Whether you jump bail in London or set up clandestine labs in your village, the long arm of the NDLEA will eventually catch up with those who choose to undermine the health, security, and future of our nation.
“We remain committed to our international collaborations to ensure that Nigeria is not used as a sanctuary for global drug lords.”
Marwa also commended officers of the Special Operations Unit for their professionalism and persistence in tracking down the suspect.
He added that the agency would continue to strengthen intelligence-driven operations and international cooperation to dismantle drug trafficking networks operating within and beyond Nigeria.
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