President Bola Tinubu has sworn in the chairman and commissioners of the Federal Character Commission (FCC) at the State House, Abuja.
Hulayat Omidiran was sworn in as FCC chairman alongside 37 commissioners representing the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Thursday.
Omidiran, a former two-term member of the house of representatives for Ayedaade/Irewole/Isokan federal constituency of Osun, succeeds Muheeba Dankaka, whose tenure the presidency described as “dogged by controversy”.
The Ikire-born politician, aged 59, holds a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and brings experience from legislative and sports administration.
She previously served as deputy chairman of the house committee on sports and held roles including board membership of the Nigeria Football Federation, chairperson of the NFF women’s football committee, membership of the FIFA women’s football committee, and service on the board of trustees of the Nigeria Olympic Committee.
Omidiran is also the founder of Omidiran Babes Football Club, a women’s football team based in Osogbo, Osun, established in 1997.
Recall that Tinubu appointed Omidiran on August 11, 2025, after earlier announcing the reappointment of Muheeba Dankaka for a second term the same day.
The senate confirmed her appointment on November 27, 2025, following statutory vetting processes, including security screening and her 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.
Those sworn in as commissioners 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) and Babangida Gwana (Bauchi).
Others are Tonye Okio (Bayelsa), Aligba Tarkende (Benue), Modu Mustapha (Borno), 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), Ibrahim Abdullahi (Kwara), Kayode Oladele (Ogun), Isah Jibrin (Niger), Ajimudu Bola (Ondo), Ayodeji Abas Aleshinloye (Oyo), Pam Bolman (Plateau), Aaron Chukwuemeka (Rivers), Aminu Tambar (Sokoto), Bobboi Kaigama (Taraba), Jibir Maigari (Yobe), Sani Garba (Zamfara) and Solomon Dagami (FCT).
The Federal Character Commission, established by Act No. 34 of 1996 and entrenched in Sections 14 and 153 of the 1999 constitution, is mandated to promote equitable distribution of public posts and socio-economic infrastructure across Nigeria.
The commission is empowered to issue guidelines for appointments into the civil and public service, security agencies and government parastatals, and to sanction heads of agencies that violate the federal character principle.
The ceremony was attended by Femi Gbajabiamila, chief of staff to the president, Dele Alake, minister of solid minerals development, and other senior government officials.