FEDERAL CHARACTER AND UNEQUAL REPRESENTATION

When Late Gen. Sani Abacha constituted the constitutional conference in 1995 to treat the thorny

issues that tended to divide rather than unite the various people of Nigeria, the proposals

recommended by the constitutional conference included; sharing of political powers, redressing

the marginalization of disadvantaged groups and distribution of economic wealth. The provisions

for the attainment of these proposals were dividing the country into six geo-political zones,

rotation of certain political offices, provision of new revenue sharing formulae and the

establishment of a Federal Character Commission.

The Federal Character Commission was established by decree No. 34 of 1996. In exercise of the

powers conferred on it by section 4(1)(a), the commission prescribed the following guiding

principles and formulae specified here to for the distribution of all cadres of posts in all services

throughout the federation.

1. Each state of the federation and Abuja shall be equitably represented in all national

constitutions and in public enterprises and organizations.

2. The best and most competent persons are recruited from each state of the federation and

Abuja to fill positions reserved for the indigenes of that state and Abuja.

3. Once a candidate has attained the necessary minimum requirement for appointment to a

position, he or she shall qualify to fill a relevant vacancy reserved for indigenes of the

state or Abuja.

4. Where the number of positions available cannot go round the states of the federation or

Abuja, the distribution shall be on zonal basis but in the case where two positions are

available, the positions shall be shared between the northern zone and the southern zone.

5. Where the indigenes of a state or Abuja are not able to take up all the vacancies meant

for them, the indigenes of any state(s) or Abuja within the same zones shall be given

preference in filling such vacancies. Provided that where the zone to which the

preference is given fails to take up such vacancy, the indigenes from any other zone

shall be considered for the appointment.

6. Each state shall produce 2.75 percent of the total workforce in any federal establishment

while Abuja shall produce 1 percent for the indigenes of Abuja provided that the

commission may adopt a range so that the indigenes of any state of the federation shall

not constitute less than the lower limit or more than the upper limit of the range as set

out in paragraph 12(a).

7. In the case of distribution on zonal basis, the commission shall adopt another range such

that the indigenes of a particular zone shall not constitute less than the lower limit or

more than the upper limit of the range as set out in paragraph 12(b).

8. The six zones shall each consist of the following, that is:

a. North Central- Abuja, Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau

b. North East- Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, Yobe

c. North West- Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara

d. South East- Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo

e. South- South- Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Rivers

f. South West- Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo

g. Depending on the number of states within each zone, the commission shall adopt three ranges such that the indigenes of any state within a zone shall not constitute less than the lower limit or more than the upper limit of the range

applicable to the zone as set out in paragraph 12(c).

These principles and formulae seem appropriate but unfortunately, they are not strictly adhered

to. Some leaders, particularly those who were in the immediate past administration, have showed

outright disregard towards it by diverting certain posts to their kinsmen, friends and loyalists

thereby making majority or all the posts to be skewed towards a particular part of that state or

Abuja.

The Senate and House of Representatives respective committees that have oversight of the

Federal Character Commission should take steps that will possibly correct the past anomaly and

ensure strict compliance with the federal character principle, so that the guiding principles and

formulae of the Federal Character Commission will not be rendered useless.

Donald Gaadi

donaldfame@gmail.com

07036026019, 08058435407

Abuja