President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday formally inaugurated a new leadership for the Federal Character Commission (FCC), swearing in its chairman and 37 commissioners at the State House, Abuja, in a move aimed at reasserting balance and equity in public appointments.
The new chairman, Mrs Hulayat Omidiran, took the oath of office alongside commissioners drawn from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory at about 4:48pm. She succeeds Dr Muheeba Dankaka, whose tenure, according to the Presidency, was marred by controversies.
Omidiran, an Ikire-born politician from Osun State, brings a blend of legislative and administrative experience to the sensitive constitutional body. She served two terms in the House of Representatives between 2011 and 2019, representing Ayedaade/Irewole/Isokan Federal Constituency. She is a graduate of Biochemistry from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and is widely regarded for her involvement in sports administration.
Her public service profile includes roles as Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Sports, board member of the Nigeria Football Federation, Chairperson of the NFF Women’s Football Committee, and membership of the FIFA Women’s Football Committee. She also served on the Board of Trustees of the Nigeria Olympic Committee and founded Omidiran Babes Football Club, a female football team established in 1997.
President Tinubu appointed Omidiran on August 11, 2025, reversing an earlier announcement on the reappointment of her predecessor. The Senate confirmed her nomination on November 27, 2025, following security screening and her appearance before the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs.
Mohammed Musa was also sworn in as Secretary of the commission.
The commissioners inaugurated include Peter Eze (Enugu), AbdulWasiu Bawalla (Lagos), Obinna Oriaku (Abia), Lawal Roni (Jigawa), Abubakar Bunu (Kebbi), Eludayo Eluyemi (Osun), Bema Madayi (Adamawa), Dora Ebong (Akwa Ibom), Nnoli Gloria (Anambra) and Babangida Gwana (Bauchi).
Others are Sir Tonye Okio (Bayelsa), Aligba Tarkende (Benue), Modu Mustapha (Borno), Dr Stella Ekpo (Cross River), Ederin Idisi (Delta), Nwokpor Vincent Nduka (Ebonyi), Victor Sabor Edoror (Edo), Sola Fokanle (Ekiti), Ibrahim Baba Mairiga (Gombe), Jerry Alagbaoso (Imo), Ruth Ango (Kaduna), Muhammad Awwal Nayya (Kano), Anas Isah (Katsina), Bello Idris Eneye (Kogi), Dr Ibrahim Abdullahi (Kwara), Kayode Oladele (Ogun), Isah Jibrin (Niger), Ajimudu Bola (Ondo), Prince Ayodeji Abas Aleshinloye (Oyo), Pam Bolman (Plateau), Aaron Chukwuemeka (Rivers), Aminu Tambar (Sokoto), Bobboi Kaigama (Taraba), Jibir Maigari (Yobe), Sani Garba (Zamfara) and Solomon Dagami (FCT).
Established by law and entrenched in the 1999 Constitution, the FCC is tasked with ensuring fair representation of Nigeria’s diverse federating units in public service appointments and access to socio-economic infrastructure. It is also empowered to issue guidelines and sanction agencies that violate the federal character principle.
The ceremony was attended by the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, and other senior government officials.
