Anambra State Head of Service (HOS) Barrister Harry Udu has commended the Nigeria Federal Character Commission for carrying out their mandate of promoting National unity, reassuring them of government support in the state.
Udu made the commendation on Saturday while addressing some members of the Anambra State Federal Character Commission, who paid him a courtesy visit in his office at the Jerome Udoji Secretariat Complex, Awka.
The HOS assured them of the government’s readiness to furnish them with any requirement, necessary in the discharge of their duties.
Our governor, Chief Willie Obiano, is a fair-minded and humane person to reckon with,’’ he said.
Udu cited the “N20 million Community Choose Your Project initiative’’, which was executed in all communities in the state for grassroots development.
According to him, the projects have ensured that every community received N20 million for a homegrown project, aimed at enhancing the living standards of the people.
“Such community development projects include sinking of boreholes, building of healthcare facilities, construction of town halls and markets,’’ he said.
The HOS maintained that the present administration had been an inclusive one, noting that people with disabilities were absorbed into the civil service system to contribute their own quota in the formation of the state.
`”We have a law now on people with disabilities that present them as part and parcel of the society,’’ he noted.
Udu praised efforts of the commission in the provision of socio-economic services for National integration.
State Director, Federal Character Commission, Mrs Nonye T Azike, thanked the HOS for the opportunity given to them to interact with him.
Azike commended HOS for assisting the commission to realise its constitutional mandate by persuading state establishments to comply with the commission’s principle, submitting their staff nominal rolls for data analysis.
The director, who led the members, said that the aim of their visit was to solicit for assistance to enforce compliance as some establishments had yet to turn in their nominal rolls.
The law backing the set up of the Federal Character Commission is in Section 14 (3) of the 1979 Constitution.
“It is the distinctive desire of the people of Nigeria to promote National unity, foster national loyalty and give every citizen of Nigeria a sense of belonging notwithstanding diversities in ethnic origin, culture, language or religion.’’
She said that the commission was mandated to ensure equitable distribution of all cadres of posts in the civil and public services of the states and at the National level.
Azike added that the commission was obligated to ensure equitable distribution of economic amenities, infrastructure and redress problems of imbalances to reduce the fear of relative deprivation and marginalisation in the Nigerian system.
She emphasised the need to be involved in recruitment exercises carried out by state establishments in a bid to ensure fairness, justice, and equity.
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