THE Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele, on Tuesday, stated that the bank had always applied the principles of Federal Character in its employment’s strategies with a view to ensuring quota system.
He made this known in Abuja at a one-day sensitization workshop organized by the Federal Character Commission (FCC) Committee on Financial Services in conjunction with Rotex Consulting Limited and Multrocarp Limited for the Chief Executive Officers, Directors of Human Resources and Administrators of Ministries, Departments and agencies (MDAs) in the financial institutions.
The theme of the workshop was: Implementation of Federal Character Principle and Guidelines in Financial Institutions.
Emefiele, whose speech was delivered by the bank acting Deputy Governor, Dr Joseph Okwu Nnanna, said the CBN had strived to sustain the cordial relationship established over the years with FCC in carrying out its core mandate.
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According to him, “you will be noticing the principles of Federal Character in CBN employment strategies. It is gratifying to note that this sensitization workshop has brought all the MDAs under the purview of the financial services committee including CBN to discuss the level of compliance with the Federal Character principles.”
He, therefore, admonished the participants to proffer solutions to the challenges and constraint in implementing not only the commission’s principles but also its guidelines, urging them to imbibe those core values that would unite the citizens, and stand against any action that could tear the country apart.
In his keynote address, the acting Executive Chairman, FCC, Dr Shettima Bukar Abba said there was a sharp contrast between FCC and quota system. He said while quota system is just about equal representation, Federal Character entails equity and fairness without compromising merit.
According to him, the antagonist of Federal Character principle, are of the opinion that its application undermines merit and are also of the view that it robs ‘Peter to pay Paul’.
This is a wrong assumption and is not correct because strict adherence to the laid down guidelines ensures that merit is not compromised.
Instead, the principle seeks to moderate, if I can say, the excess of the greedy to redress the shortage of the needy in the interest of national unity, security and stability.”
He said the character is not just about South, North or East, but ensuring that the Federating units i.e 37 states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are all represented.
In his welcome address, the Chairman, Committee on Financial Services, FCC, Honourable Saidu Danbala Adamu said the FCC promotes, monitors and enforce compliance with the principle of proportional sharing of all bureaucratic, economic and political posts at all levels of government.
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