President Bola Tinubu on Thursday swore in the Chairman and Commissioners of the Federal Character Commission (FCC) at the State House, Abuja, formally inaugurating the new leadership of the constitutionally established body.
The new FCC Chairman, Mrs Hulayat Omidiran, took the oath of office alongside 37 commissioners, representing the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, at about 4:48 pm.
Omidiran, 59, succeeds Dr. Muheeba Dankaka, whose tenure the Presidency said was “dogged by controversy.” She was appointed by President Tinubu on August 11, 2025, following an earlier announcement that had indicated Dankaka’s reappointment.
The Senate confirmed Omidiran’s appointment on November 27, 2025, after she underwent statutory vetting processes, including security screening and an appearance before the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs on October 30.
Profile of the New Chairman
An indigene of Ikire, Osun State, Omidiran is a former two-term member of the House of Representatives, where she represented Ayedaade/Irewole/Isokan Federal Constituency from 2011 to 2019.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and has experience spanning legislative work and sports administration.
During her time in the National Assembly, she served as Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Sports. Her sports administration roles include membership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Board, Chairperson of the NFF Women’s Football Committee, membership of the FIFA Women’s Football Committee, and service on the Board of Trustees of the Nigeria Olympic Committee.
She is also the founder of Omidiran Babes Football Club, a female football club based in Osogbo, Osun State, established in 1997.
Secretary and Commissioners
President Tinubu also approved the appointment of Mohammed Musa as Secretary of the Commission.
Those sworn in as commissioners 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).
Mandate of the Commission
The Federal Character Commission, established by Act No. 34 of 1996 and entrenched in Sections 14 and 153 of the 1999 Constitution, is mandated to ensure the equitable distribution of public offices and socio-economic infrastructure across Nigeria’s federating units.
The commission is empowered to issue guidelines on appointments into the civil and public service, security agencies, and government parastatals, and to sanction heads of institutions that violate the federal character principle.
Dignitaries in Attendance
The swearing-in ceremony was attended by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, and other senior government officials.
