…accuses governor of using Ajimobi as diversion from economic mismanagement

A Federal Commissioner at the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Prof. Adeniyi Olowofela, has accused Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, of using the late former Governor Abiola Ajimobi to divert attention from what he described as the state’s worsening debt crisis under the current administration.

In a statement on Sunday and exclusively obtained by Mega Icon Magazine, Olowofela, a former commissioner for Education, Science and Technology under Ajimobi’s administration, said Makinde’s penchant for borrowing has reached alarming levels, with over ₦500 billion allegedly incurred in debts between May 2019 and June 2025.

This comes just days after the Oyo State House of Assembly approved yet another ₦63 billion loan request by Governor Makinde, reportedly earmarked for the renovation of the Government House.

The ex-council chief questioned the rationale behind such a huge loan for what he called a “cosmetic” project at a time when residents are grappling with poverty and food insecurity.

“It is on record that Governor Makinde has borrowed over ₦500 billion in six years. Now he wants another ₦63 billion just to renovate the Government House, yet he blames Ajimobi for the state’s financial woes,” Olowofela said.

According to him, the claim that the state is still struggling to repay debts incurred by Ajimobi is misleading. He clarified that the ₦7 billion agricultural loan procured under the Ajimobi administration was never accessed, as Governor Makinde, shortly after winning the 2019 election, instructed the bank not to release the funds to the outgoing government.

He noted that despite being the main beneficiary of the facility, Makinde’s government has yet to channel the funds into the intended agricultural projects in Akufo and Ibarapa six years later.

On the controversial World Bank-funded flood control initiative, Olowofela noted that while Ajimobi’s government accessed only 14 percent of the $200 million loan, the Makinde administration had drawn down the remaining 86 percent. He argued that this disqualifies Makinde from shifting blame to his predecessor for debts that largely benefited his own government.

“Logically speaking, if Governor Makinde is repaying these loans, then he is paying for funds he has spent. Crying foul is therefore diversionary and politically self-serving,” he said.

The federal commissioner also took a swipe at the Makinde administration for allegedly seizing a property belonging to the late Ajimobi, located near the Government House. He called for the immediate release of the property to the family of the late governor, urging the governor to rise above politics and act as a statesman.

“It’s been six years since Ajimobi left office and five years since his passing. If Governor Makinde still blames him for his own rudderless leadership, then perhaps he needs the services of a necromancer to resurrect Ajimobi,” he said.

He warned that any successor to Makinde in 2027 would need to be an “economic wizard” to salvage the state from its current fiscal trajectory.

“The people of Oyo State must begin to ask hard questions about the true state of our public finances and the priorities of those who lead us. Spending ₦63 billion on a building while the people go hungry is not governance — it is misplacement of priorities,” Olowofela concluded.

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday presided over the swearing-in of newly appointed members of the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), the Federal Character Commission (FCC), and the National Population Commission (NPC).

Also sworn in were eight former directors in the Federal Civil Service, who have now been elevated to the rank of Permanent Secretaries.

This development was announced in a statement signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy.

According to the statement, the newly inducted officials took their oaths of office at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, just before the commencement of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.

The swearing-in ceremony saw 21 new members joining the RMAFC, alongside one additional member each for the FCC and the NPC.

Onanuga further disclosed that the newly appointed Permanent Secretaries hail from eight different states and were selected through a rigorous process that included written and oral examinations, as well as an ICT competency test.

President Tinubu, while congratulating the appointees, charged them to uphold integrity and dedication in their respective offices, ensuring effective governance and equitable resource distribution in the country.

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The Federal Character Commission (FCC) has refuted claims by former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara, that he was denied job placements for his constituents due to his refusal to pay bribes.

The commission clarified that the rejection of Wabara’s request stemmed from the fact that it fell outside its mandate.

Wabara had alleged that efforts to secure job placements for individuals in his wards were blocked because he did not offer any money.

According to him, “You won’t believe that up till now, nothing has been done for the simple reason that I have not dropped any money and that they cannot even ask me to drop money.”

However, in a statement issued by Dr. Chuks Okoli, Director of Public Affairs and Communication at the FCC, the commission dismissed the allegations, emphasising that Wabara was informed during a visit to the FCC Executive Chairman, Dr. Muheeba Dankaka, in March 2023, that the commission does not serve as a recruitment agency.

The statement further explained that the FCC’s role is to monitor recruitment processes across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to ensure fairness and equity, not to facilitate job placements.

In response to Wabara’s bribery claims, the FCC challenged the former Senate President to substantiate his accusations.

“For this weighty allegation, it will be appreciated if His Excellency, the former Senate President, can mention the name(s) of the person(s) that asked him to pay a bribe to secure FCC job slots for his children and grandchildren or substantiate his allegation.”

The FCC also urged the public to disregard the claims, reaffirming that since Dr. Dankaka was appointed Executive Chairman, she has maintained strict adherence to the principles of Federal Character in the recruitment processes of MDAs.

“The general public is hereby asked and encouraged to disregard this unsubstantiated allegation of ‘bribe for FCC job slot’ made by former distinguished Senator Adolphus Wabara,” the statement concluded.

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Having previously served as the Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology, Olowofela, also extended his heartfelt condolences to the immediate family of the deceased, the National Assembly, and the Government of Oyo State.

The unexpected demise of the two-term lawmaker early Wednesday morning has left a profound void in the hearts of his constituents, colleagues, and the broader political landscape of Oyo State.

Oyo: Olowofela, others sworn in as federal Commissioner

In his tribute, the former council chief of Ido local government recognised the substantial contributions and dedicated service that the late Akinremi rendered to his community and the nation as a whole.

The FCC Commissioner further acknowledged the significant impact that the former head of the House Committee on Science Research Institutions had on the lives of the people he represented.

According to him, Hon. Akinremi’s unwavering commitment to addressing the needs of his constituents and his relentless efforts to champion their interests in the National Assembly earned him the respect and admiration of many.

Rep. Oseni Mourns Colleague, Akinremi Jagaban, Extends Condolences to Family, Others

“Hon. Akinremi Olaide was a true servant of the people, and his passing is a great loss to our state and the nation,” said Professor Olowofela.

“He was a passionate advocate for the well-being of his constituents, and his dedication to public service was truly commendable. On behalf of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family, the National Assembly, and the Government of Oyo State during this difficult time.”, Olowofela added.

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The House of Representatives has ordered the arrest of a former desk officer in charge of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) at the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Haruna Kolo, over job racketeering allegations.

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The Commissioner representing Oyo State at the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Prof. Adeniyi Olowofela, has felicitated with the wife of the late  Executive Governor of the state, Dr. ( Mrs) Florence Ajimobi, on the occasion of her 64th birthday celebrations.

“As the matriarch of the Ajimobi Dynasty, you keep the flag flying. You are an embodiment of beauty, vitality, and resilience in all ramifications of life.

“Happy birthday to you, Ma. Her Excellency, Chief Mrs. Florence Ajimobi”, he concluded.

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The Coalition at a press conference in Osogbo, the Osun state capital noted that it would be a thing of joy, if President Buhari could appoint a southern candidate to succeed the outgoing Federal Character Commission (FCC) secretary, Alhaji Muhammed Bello, whose tenure ends next week.

The Convener of Values of Unlimited Restorative Justice, Oluwole Oladapo who addressed the press on behalf of Civil Society Organisations, observed that since the creation of the commission in 1996, the tradition had always been the Chairman from the North and Secretary from the South, respectively.

Speaking further, Oladapo said the Coalition believed that the president would prove his commitment to equity, fairness and justice for all in Nigeria in the appointment of a southern candidate as the Secretary of the commission.

According to him, “the Federal Character Commission, according to Section 153(1) of the 1999 Constitution as amended is meant to be the custodian of the principle of federal character and is mandated to ensure compliance with this principle by all federal agencies, departments and parastatals in Nigeria.

“Hence, charity should ordinarily begin from the home of the commission by respecting the provision of the law and appoint its Secretary from the Southern part of Nigeria”, he added.

Also commenting, Ayo Ologun, the Convener of Oodua Youth Initiative, emphasized that appointing a southern candidate as Secretary of the commission would promote unity and principle of fairness in the country.

He, however appealed to President Buhari to use his good office to see to it that a southern candidate is appointed as a substantive secretary of the commission.

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Governor Uzodinma registered his position at a banquet the Imo state government hosted in honoured of the Executive Chairman and Commissioners of the Federal Character Commission (FCC) who were in the State for a retreat last week at the Government House, Owerri.

According to the Governor, the philosophy behind the establishment of the Federal Character Commission (FCC) was well thought out development, adding that to a great extent the Commission has assisted in efforts made at the unification of the country.

He noted that at this very trying moment of the country, the Commission needed to bring its functions to play to douse the tention giving assurance to the citizenry of a sense of belonging.

Senator Uzodinma stressed that it was in recognition of the great role of the Commission that the Imo State government opted to sponsor the retreat.

He admonished members to work together in harmony to enable the Commission deliver on its mandate.

In her remarks, the Executive Chairman, Federal Character Commission (FCC), Dr Muheeba Dankaka thanked the Governor and Imo State government for accepting to host the retreat. She said the out come of the  retreat will go a long way in assisting the Commission in its assignment.

The FCC boss, however called on state governors to also come to the aid of the Commission, particularly by assisting the State offices to function effectively.

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Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Muheeba Dankaka on Wednesday, in Abuja, the nation’s capital, also assured that FCC will work diligently to unravel those behind sales of jobs in Space Agency of Nigeria.

FCC’s decision to probe into the alleged recruitment scandal of the Space Agency, according to  Dr. Dankaka was followed by the revelations made by the Deputy Senate Majority Leader, Prof. Ajayi Boroffice.

Prof. Boroffice, has alleged that the Space Agency that should be employing scientists and engineers are employing graduates of religious studies and other unrelated courses.

The lawmaker, who spoke at the annual national space dialogue/media conference on Space Science and Technology also added that he learnt that people are made to pay between N2 million to N2.5 million for employment, describing it as sad.

The FCC boss, Dankaka, who emphasized that the Commission was primarily established to monitor recruitment of personnel, both administrative and political, promised to ensure that a massive investigation is carried out to unravel those behind the job racketeering.

“This is shocking. We’re going to do everything possible to unravel those behind sales of jobs there. No stone shall be left unturned in revealing those involved in job racketeering at the Space Agency”, she vowed.

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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.

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