Lawan gave the charge when the Executive Chairman of the Commission, Dr Muheebbat Dankaka, led other members on a courtesy visit to his office on Monday.

“The FCC is designed purposely to provide stability in the country. No part of the country should be neglected; no part of this country should feel shortchanged, and this is the essence of the Commission,” Lawan said.

The Senate President said in the event that any state took undue advantage in the recruitment process, the Commission should not allow any further recruitment from that state until other states were properly taken care of.

“Don’t mind what people from that state will say, so long there are too many people from one part of the country in an organisation, make sure other parts of the country get their share too and stop further recruitment from that state.

“We have witnessed that kind of situation where a Chief Executive Officer of an agency will simply take advantage of his office and pass through your system and get all his people into the organisation to the neglect of other parts of the country.

“Your organisation is important because you give people a sense of belonging even though it is in our character to complain of marginalisation even where there is none. But figures do not lie. Figures are there to show what every state has in every organisation.

“Where you think it is hot for you to handle come to National Assembly, we will help and support you on that because this country belongs to all of us irrespective of where one comes from, therefore there must be fairness, justice and equity in the way and manner offices are shared and opportunities given.”

Lawan assured members of the Commission of the Senate’s support in their quest for an increase in funding but called on the Commission to always work closely with the Senate Committee on Federal Character in all its activities and decision making process.

He called on the Commission to hasten the presentation of its proposed amendment to the Act establishing it for expeditious consideration by the National Assembly.

In her remarks the Executive Chairman of the Commission, Mrs Muheebbat Dankaka, urged the Senate to support the commission’s request to President Muhammadu Buhari for increase funding.

Dankaka said the commission “is working on some grey areas of our Act, to make it more potent and in line with the dynamics of time.”

She commended the harmonious relationship between the executive and legislature, which she said facilitated their speedy screening and confirmation by the Senate.

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The nominees were confirmed after the upper chamber considered the report of the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs.

The nominees whose appointments were confirmed are: Dr. Muheeba (Farida) Dankaka, Chairman (kwara); Hon. Henry Ogbulogo (Abia); Dr. Salihu Bello (Adamawa); Obonganwan Dorah Daniel Ebong (Akwa Ibom); Rev. Ibeabuchi Uche (Anambra); Mohammad Tijjani (Bauchi); Tonye G. Okio Member (Bayelsa); Mr. Silas Mfa Macikpah (Benue); Abba Ali Monguno Member (Borno); Mr. Nsor Atamgba (Cross River); Hon. Moses Anaughe (Delta); Chief George Afamefuna Ossi (Ebonyi); Imuetinyan Festus Member (Edo); Barr. Sesan Fatoba (Ekiti); and Mrs. Ginika Florence Tor (Enugu).

Others are: Hamza Mohammed (Gombe); Dr. Diogu Uche (Imo); Lawan Ya’u Roni (Jigawa); Hadiza Usman Muazu (Kaduna); Muhammad Awwal Na’iya (Kano); Hon. Lawai Garba (Katsina); Abubakar Atiku Bunu (Kebbi); Pharm. Idris Eneye Bello (Kano); Abdul Wasiu Kayode Bawa-Allah (Lagos); Barr Alakayi Toro Mamman (Nassarawa); Maj.Gen. Suleiman Barau Said.(Rtd) (Niger); Abiodun Isiaq Akinlade (Osun); Chief Olufemi Lawrence Omosanya (Ondo); Adeoye Abdulrazak Olalekan (Osun); Prof. Adeniyi Olowofela (Oyo); Mr. Stephen A. Jings (Plateau); Wokocha Augustine (Rivers); Abdullahi Aminu Tafida (Sokoto); Alhaji Armaya’u Dauda Abubakar (Taraba); Hon. Jibril Maigari (Yobe); Hon. Sani Garba (Zamfara); and Sen. Adamu Mohammed Sidi-Ali (FCT).

In a related development, the Senate on Tuesday also confirmed the appointments of Dr. Frederick Ekwem, Commissioner, (Imo and Abia); and Dr. Jonah Madugu, Commissioner (Benue, Nasarawa and Plateau).

The confirmation of both appointments was sequel to the consideration and adoption of the report of the Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service.

Meanwhile, the Senate has received a formal request from President Muhammadu Buhari to replace one of the members on the Federal Character Commission.

The letter dated May 29, 2020, was read by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, on the floor during plenary on Tuesday.

The letter reads: “In compliance with the provision of Section 154(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), I have the pleasure to present for confirmation by the Senate, Mr. James Jiya Kolo as a Member representing Kwara State in the Federal Character Commission replacing the nominee earlier submitted for the state, Mr. Daniel James Kolo who died on 19th May, 2020.”

In another letter received by the Upper Chamber, President Muhammadu Buhari requested the confirmation of Tella Adeniran Rahmon as Resident Electoral Commissioner from Osun State in the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC).

According to the president, the request seeking Rahmon’s confirmation was pursuant to Paragraph 14(3) of Part One of the Third Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

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