The Federal Character Commission, FCC, and the Nigerian Railway Corporation, NRC, have agreed to deepen collaboration to ensure fairness and equity in recruitments, promotions and other personnel matters.
The agreement was reached on Tuesday during an interactive meeting between the FCC Committee on Works, Transport and Aviation and NRC management at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
Chairman of the FCC Committee and Federal Commissioner representing Enugu State, Hon. Peter Eze, said the engagement marked a shift from reactive to proactive enforcement of the Federal Character Principle as provided in the 1999 Constitution.
“We no longer want to be reactive to issues involving MDAs. We want to be strategic rather than merely administrative,” Eze said.
He said discussions focused on recruitments, promotions and monitoring areas where the Commission had previously had limited involvement.
“We identified issues relating to recruitments, monitoring and promotions. They are now aware that the Commission has the constitutional mandate to oversee those areas.
“Going forward, if such activities are carried out without involving the Federal Character Commission, we will take appropriate action,” he warned.
Eze commended NRC management for embracing the Commission’s renewed approach and pledged to work with the corporation to review its nominal roll to ensure future recruitments reflect equitable representation of all states.
Responding, NRC Managing Director, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, described the meeting as timely and productive.
“The interaction was highly educational and professional. It has further highlighted the importance of inter-agency cooperation,” Opeifa said.
He reaffirmed the Corporation’s commitment to national integration, describing the railway system as one of the foremost symbols of Nigeria’s unity.
“If there is any federal agency that symbolises national integration, it is the Nigerian Railway Corporation. Likewise, if there is any federal agency mandated to sustain that integration, it is the Federal Character Commission,” he said.
Opeifa also said the Corporation had continued to deploy technology to improve service delivery despite funding constraints, and assured that available budgetary allocations would be used judiciously.
In her remarks, FCC Executive Chairman, Hon. Hulayat Motunrayo Omidiran, said the Commission’s engagements with federal agencies were designed to foster collaboration, not confrontation.
She stressed that the FCC remains committed to ensuring every Nigerian enjoys a sense of belonging through strict adherence to the Federal Character Principle.
“We share the same mission and objective to make Nigeria better, unite the country and ensure every Nigerian feels relevant in the scheme of things,” Omidiran said.
She added that while dialogue remains her preferred approach, agencies that deliberately flout constitutional provisions would face sanctions.
“I have always maintained that the FCC is not a punitive organisation. It is only when an agency deliberately refuses to comply that we will invoke the constitutional provisions empowering us to sanction offenders,” she stated.
Omidiran also disclosed that the Commission had streamlined its approval processes as part of ongoing reforms, noting that complete applications are now approved on the same day.
The meeting is the latest in the FCC’s drive to strengthen compliance with federal character requirements across MDAs and promote national integration and equal opportunities.
