Exclusion, marginalisation undermine national unity, trigger disaffection – FCC Chair

Mr Kayode Oladele, Acting Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), says exclusion and marginalisation of certain groups in national development can undermine national unity and fuel public disaffection.

Oladele said this on Tuesday in Abuja, at the opening of an Executive Development Programme organised by the commission for its directors and top management staff.

He said the FCC remained committed to promoting fairness and equity in public appointments and distribution of resources across the federation.

”When citizens perceive fairness in the distribution of appointments, contracts, and opportunities, they develop confidence in the state.

”Conversely, when exclusion or perceived marginalisation festers, it undermines national unity and triggers disaffection,” he said.

He described the FCC as not only a regulatory agency, but a peace-building and nation-building institution.

He said that the current geo-political distribution of federal appointments showed efforts toward proportional representation, aimed at correcting the perception of lopsidedness.

According to him, the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Federal Government requires public institutions to rekindle trust through fairness, transparency, and inclusiveness.

”Our leadership must be proactive, compassionate, and visionary. As senior managers and policymakers, each of us holds a piece of Nigeria’s unity in our hands.”

The FCC boss also described the workshop was a defining moment in repositioning the FCC as a strategic institution at the heart of Nigeria’s unity, equity, and inclusive governance.

The newly appointed Secretary to the commission, Mr Muhammad Musa, in his remarks, said that the workshop was designed to strengthen management capacity and leadership performance.

”We look forward to seeing our directors better acquainted with new developments in leadership and management, and ready to perform better toward achieving the commission’s mandate and the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr President,” he said.

Musa reiterated the commission’s commitment to ensuring fairness and equitable distribution of appointments and socio-economic amenities across the federation.

Also speaking, the Director, Public Affairs and Communication, Mr Chizea Chukwudi, described the workshop as apt and timely, coming at a time when the commission sought to correct public misconceptions.

”The workshop will strengthen management staff to perform their roles effectively and change negative narratives about the commission,” he said.

A consultant from Adiv Solutions Ltd., Mrs Love Idoko-Uloko, commended the FCC’s leadership for its commitment to institutional renewal and capacity development.

She said the programme aimed to deepen strategic thinking, strengthen financial stewardship, and inspire inclusive leadership within the commission.

”In an era of rapid socio-political evolution and heightened public expectations, leadership in governance institutions must be visionary, data-driven, and people-centred,” she said.

She added that Adiv Solutions had a longstanding partnership with the FCC in delivering executive training and supporting institutional growth.

Idoko-Uloko urged participants to engage actively, reflect purposefully, and share insights that would advance the commission’s mandate of fairness, unity, and inclusive national development.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the workshop theme is ”Strengthening Leadership and Management Excellence in the Federal Character Commission in Line with the Renewed Hope Agenda”.