Tinubu Swears In New FCC Chairman, 37 Commissioners

President Bola Tinubu, on Thursday, swore in the new Chairman and 37 commissioners of the Federal Character Commission (FCC) at a brief ceremony held at the Council Chambers of the State House, Abuja.

The swearing-in, conducted in a single batch, was anchored by the Assistant Director of Media in the Office of the President, Oche Egwa, who read the citations of the appointees before they proceeded for a presidential handshake.

The new FCC Chairman, Hon. Ayo Hulayat Omidiran, took the oath of office alongside commissioners representing the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Omidiran, 59, a former two-term member of the House of Representatives for Ayedaade/Irewole/Isokan Federal Constituency of Osun State (2011–2019), succeeds Dr Muheeba Dankaka, who served as Executive Chairman for five years.

An indigene of Ikire, Osun State, Omidiran holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and has experience spanning legislative and sports administration.

She previously served as Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Sports and held several roles in football administration, including board membership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Chairperson of the NFF Women’s Football Committee, membership of the FIFA Women’s Football Committee and trustee of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC).

She is also the founder of Omidiran Babes Football Club, a female football team based in Osogbo, Osun State, established in 1997.

President Tinubu appointed Omidiran on August 11, 2025, following a reversal of the earlier reappointment of Dr Dankaka. Her nomination was confirmed by the Senate on November 27, 2025, after screening and an appearance before the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs on October 30.

Mohammed Musa was also appointed as Secretary of the Commission.

The commissioners sworn in include Peter Ogbonna Eze (Enugu), AbdulWasiu Kayode Bawalla (Lagos), Obinna Oriaku (Abia), Lawal Ya’u Roni (Jigawa), Abubakar Atiku Bunu (Kebbi), Eludayo Eluyemi (Osun), Bema Olvadi Madayi (Adamawa), Dora Ebong (Akwa Ibom), Nnoli Nkechi Gloria (Anambra) and Babangida Adamu Gwana (Bauchi).

Others are Sir Tonye Okio (Bayelsa), Aligba Eugene Tarkende (Benue), Engr. Modu Mustapha (Borno), Dr Stella Odey Ekpo (Cross River), Ederin Lovette Idisi (Delta), Nwokpor Vincent Nduka (Ebonyi), Victor Sabor Edoror (Edo), Sola Fokanle (Ekiti), Ibrahim Baba Mairiga (Gombe), Jerry Alagbaoso (Imo), Ruth Jumai 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 Bala Kaigama (Taraba), Jibir Maigari (Yobe), Sani Garba (Zamfara) and Solomon Ayuba Dagami (FCT).

The FCC was established by Act No. 34 of 1996 and is backed by Sections 14 and 153 of the 1999 Constitution. It is mandated to ensure equitable distribution of public offices and socio-economic infrastructure among Nigeria’s federating units, and has powers to enforce compliance with the federal character principle across public institutions.