President Bola Tinubu on Thursday swore in the new Chairman and Commissioners of the Federal Character Commission (FCC) at the State House in Abuja.
The new FCC Chairman, Hulayat Omidiran, took the oath of office alongside 37 commissioners representing the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) at about 4:48 p.m.
Omidiran, 59, is a former two-term member of the House of Representatives, representing Ayedaade/Irewole/Isokan Federal Constituency of Osun State from 2011 to 2019. She succeeds Dr Muheeba Dankaka, whose tenure the Presidency described as “dogged by controversy.”
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and has experience in legislative and sports administration. She previously served as Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Sports, a board member of the Nigeria Football Federation, Chairperson of the NFF Women’s Football Committee, a member of the FIFA Women’s Football Committee, and 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.
President Tinubu appointed her on August 11, 2025, and the Senate confirmed her on November 27, 2025, after security screening and vetting by the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs.
Mohammed Musa was sworn in as Secretary of the commission. Commissioners sworn in 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)
•Babangida Gwana (Bauchi)
•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)
•Solomon Dagami (FCT)
The Federal Character Commission, established by Act No. 34 of 1996 and enshrined in Sections 14 and 153 of the 1999 Constitution, ensures fair distribution of public offices and government resources across Nigeria. It sets guidelines for appointments in the civil service, security agencies, and parastatals, and can sanction heads of agencies that breach federal character principles.
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 officials.
