Row over Lopsided Appointments at Federal Character Commission as Chairman’s Tenure Expires

Pat Stephen/

 

Disquiet now pervades the headquarters of the Federal Character Commission over alleged refusal of the acting Executive Chairman, Dr Shettima Bukar Abba, to leave office four days after the expiration of his tenure.

Abba, a federal commissioner, who hails from Borno State, emerged as acting chairman in January 2016 for a two-year term and his tenure ended on July 31, 2018, but has since remained in office, an action that is allegedly causing disquiet among commissioners and staff, albeit leading to stagnation of work.

NewsmakersNG learnt that It was expected on July 31, 2018, that the outgoing Chairman Dr Shettima Bukar Abba, would hand over to the most senior commissioner as directed by a Secretary to the Government of the Federation via Circular Ref. No.SGF.50/S.11/C.2/268, titled “End of Tenure Processes for Heads of Extra-Ministerial Departments, Directors General, Chief Executive Officers of Parastatals, Agencies, Commissions and government-owned companies and succession guideline.”

Aggrieved stakeholders told NewsmakersNG that instead of leaving office, Dr Abba remained and has even appointed the Labour Union Chairman, Idris Abdullahi, at the commission as his Special Assistant in order to cause division among union members.

Commission staff are calling on the Federal Government to prevail on the chairman to comply with extant laws and vacate office immediately.

But Dr Abba, in a telephone interview said since his tenure elapsed a couple of days ago, he had not performed any duty and had cleared his office in preparation to leave, having completed his term.

Section 7 (3) of the Federal Character Commission Establishment Act, Chapter F7 of the Laws of the Federation says that “During the Chairman’s absence on leave or if the Chairman is not available or is unable to perform his functions, the President may appoint any member of the commission to act as chairman for a specified period.”

Following the expiration of Abbas’ tenure, the substantive Secretary to the Commission, Barr. Bello Tukur, who is from Taraba State, recently appointed by the President from the same Geo-Political Zone with the outgoing Chairman, has directed that no files be given to the outgoing chairman because his action on such file would be null and void.

The current composition is said to be an aberration which negates the age-long practice which does not allow the Chairman and the Secretary to come from the same geopolitical region.

The Federal Character Commission is one of the 14 Independent Executive Bodies established by Section 153(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), and it is vested with the responsibility to promote, monitor and enforce compliance with the principles of proportional sharing of all bureaucratic, economic, media and political post at all levels of government amongst the federating units of Nigeria.

As it is now, the outgoing Chairman and the Secretary to the Commission are all from Northeast zone – Borno and Taraba states respectively, a situation that is in clear violation of  Federal Character Guiding Principles and Formulae for Distribution of Post ” In a case where two positions are available, the positions shall be shared between the Northern and the Southern zones”.

The sit-tight syndrome is generating tension amongst staff and board members of the Commission who are eagerly awaiting directives from the higher authority to salvage the situation.

The power to appoint the Executive Chairman and Commissioners of the Commission resides in the President, subject to the confirmation by the Senate, by virtue of Section 2(2) of the Federal Character Commission (Establishment Etc) Act.

Since its inception in 1996, the Northern Region has consistently produced the substantive and/or Acting Chairman in this order:

(1)               Alhaji Adamu M. Fika    –    Executive Chairman 1996-2001 – Yobe State

 

(2)               Alhaji Bello Kafar Bai     –    Executive Chairman – 2002-2007 – Katsina State

 

(3)             Prof. Shuaibu O. Abdulraleem – Executive Chairman – 2008-2014 – Kwara State

 

(4)            Alhaji Ari Gwaska        – Ag. Executive Chairman – 2012-2014 – Nasarawa State

 

(5)          Alhaji Lawan Futua        –   Ag. Executive Chairman – 2013-2014 – Katsina State

 

(6)       Alhaji Muhammed Bello Alkali – Ag. Executive Chairman – 2014-2015 – Kebbi State.

 

(7)       Dr Shettima Bukar    –  Ag. Executive Chairman – Jan.2016-date – Borno State

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