The Federal Character Commission in Nigeria has launched a workshop to sensitive government agencies on fostering cohesion in public services.
The workshop, which was held in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital had in attendance, the Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission, Dr. Muheeba Dankaka.
Dr Muheeba led other Federal Commissioners of the Commission representing the 6 states in North-East, and that of Niger and Sokoto on a courtesy visit to Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum
Speaking during the visit, Dr. Muheeba appreciated the Borno State Governor for his support and encouragement when she assumed office as the Executive Chairman.
She said, “These partnership and friendship is what informed our decision to host a Sensitisation workshop on the equitable distribution of infrastructure facilities, economic and social amenities Nationwide.”
The Chairman further stated that their choice for Borno State was deliberate, as it was in line with the development strides of the Government and also to give the state a sense of belonging
“The Federal Character Commission was established with a primary focus of ensuring a strong, virile and indisivible nation, based on fairness, equity, and justice to promote national unity, foster national loyalty and give every citizen a sense of belonging,” she said.
Dr. Muheeda explaonedd that over time, the Commission had devoted the greater part of its existence to the institutionalisation and domestication of the Federal Character Principle in the operations of the Nigerian Civil/Public Service Interactions with MDAs and has recorded considerable level of acceptance and compliance with the Federal Character Principle.
Monitor Distribution of Projects
“The Commission has the constitutional mandate to monitor the equitable allocation and distribution of projects and programmes, to ensure equity and fairness within the federation and evaluate the spread of socio-economic amenities as represented by the location of projects in Nigeria, and ensure compliance. It is against this background that the Commission has made efforts in the following areas:
1. Designing implementation structure and developing human resource capacity that will be responsible for actualizing the objectives of the second mandate;
2. Determining project spreads to appropriately advise government at all levels on spending priorities and distribution of infrastructural facilities;
3. Dispassionately looking at the equitable distribution of socio-economic development projects across the country.
4. Equipping ourselves with tool (database) to achieve adequate tracking and monitoring of scio-economic projects across the country,” the Executive Chairman explained.
Governor Zulum in his remarks, thanked the Chairman and her team and said, ” it is a great honour for me to address you today on this national workshop on equitable distribution of infrastructural facilities, economic and social amenities nationwide hosting in Maiduguri in the North East zone, which was organized by the federal character commission to promote the idea and principles of the commission.
“In the spirit of the federal character commission, the Borno State Government deemed it necessary to build a similar policy of fairness, equity in matters of appointments siting of development projects in the 27 local government areas in the state that has doused a lot tension that exited before.
“We will continue to promote policies and programme aim at bringing resilience of our people through capable and durable solutions, i want to assure you that the Government of Borno will continue partnering wit the commission in all areas that will lead to successes and proffer developmental strides in building a good public service in the state,” Governor Zulum said.
Career Counseling Board
Zulum further urged the newly established Borno State guidance and career counseling board to keep the tempo in liaising with the federal character commission with a view of bringing Borno State share of all opportunities.
“Let me seize this opportunity to announce to the Federal Government agencies in the state, that Borno State Government will soon lay foundation for the construction of housing estate that will be allocated to federal government agencies working in the state,” the governor added.
Confidence Okwuchi
