Federal character, unequal representation

When the late General Sani Abacha constituted the Constitutional Conference in 1995 to treat the thorny issues that tended to divide rather than unite the various peoples of Nigeria, the proposals recommended by the conference included; sharing of political powers, redressing the marginalisation of disadvantaged groups and distribution of economic wealth.

The provisions for the attainment of these proposals were: dividing the country into six geopolitical zones, rotation of certain political offices, provision of new revenue sharing formula and the establishment of a Federal Character Commission (FCC).

The FCC 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 formula specified here to for the distribution of all cadres of posts in all services throughout the federation.

It states that each state of the federation and Abuja shall be equitably represented in all national constitutions and in public enterprises and organisations and that 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.

It further provides that 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, and 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 a case where two positions are available, the positions shall be shared between the northern zone and the southern zone. Again, 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.

Each state shall produce 2.75 per cent of the total workforce in any federal establishment while Abuja shall produce one per cent 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.

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).

These principles seem appropriate but unfortunately, they are not strictly adhered to.

Some leaders 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.

Donald Gaadi,

Abuja.