Acting chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Hon. Kayode Oladele, has reiterated the agency’s readiness to collaborate with the original inhabitants of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to promote inclusive development and equity.
Oladele gave the assurance on Monday during a visit by the Maijagora Peace and Development Initiative, a non-governmental organisation representing the sons and daughters of FCT’s indigenous communities.
The delegation was led by the group’s executive director, Comrade Muntasir Jibrin Mohammed.
In his address, the FCC boss described the commission as a critical institution in ensuring fairness, equity, and justice in the distribution of federal posts, socio-economic amenities, and infrastructure across Nigeria’s federating units, including the FCT.
“Our mandate is to foster a sense of belonging among all Nigerians by promoting fairness in the allocation of opportunities and resources,” Oladele said. “At the Federal Character Commission, we are particularly interested in ensuring that what a state gets is equally accessible to other states, including the Federal Capital Territory.”
He urged members of the indigenous FCT communities to leverage the Commission’s framework and opportunities available in the territory to improve their socio-economic well-being.
Comrade Mohammed, in his remarks, lauded the appointment of Hon. Oladele—a known human rights advocate and legal practitioner—as a step in the right direction. He commended the FCC leadership for its focus on promoting peace and national stability through equitable representation and development.
He noted that the Maijagora Peace and Development Initiative was established in response to decades of marginalisation faced by the original inhabitants of the FCT, who, he said, had suffered significant losses in terms of identity, heritage, and access to opportunities.
While responding to the group’s requests, Hon. Oladele reaffirmed the Commission’s role as a law enforcement agency responsible for monitoring compliance with federal character principles across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
The visit concluded with a renewed commitment from both parties to work collaboratively toward ensuring justice, peace, and inclusive development in the FCT.
