President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (PBAT) has approved the appointment of Dr. Eugene Tarkende Aliegba, a Professor of Political Economy and Development Studies at Nasarawa State University Keffi (NSUK), as a member of the Federal Character Commission (FCC).
According to a statement issued by Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, on August 11, the president approved Prof Aliegba’s appointment alongside Dr Muheeba Dankaka’s reappointment as the Executive Chairman of the commission.
Mohammed Musa has been appointed as the commission’s Secretary, while Hon. Kayode Oladele from Ogun retains his position as commissioner. Hon Oladele, a former member of the House of Representatives, was appointed by PBAT in 2024 and served as the commission’s acting chairman following Dankaka’s first-term tenure.
The President also renewed the appointment of Lawal Ya’u Roni, Abubakar Atiku Bunu, and Eludayo Eluyemi, who represent Jigawa, Kebbi, and Osun States, for a second term.
Other newly-appointed commissioners are Hon. Obina Oriaku (Abia); Mrs. Bema Olvadi Madayi (Adamawa); Mr. Obongawan Dora Ebong (Akwa–Ibom); Hon. Nnoli Nkechi Gloria (Anambra); Mr. Babangida Adamu Gwana (Bauchi); Sir Tonye Okio (Bayelsa); Engr. Modu Mustapha (Borno); Dr. Stella Odey Ekpo (Cross River); Mrs. Ederin Lovette Idisi (Delta); Barr. Nwokpor Vincent Nduka (Ebonyi); Hon. Chief Victor Sabor Edoror (Edo); Hon. Sola Fokanle (Ekiti); Mr. Peter Eze (Enugu); Mr. Ibrahim Baba Mairiga (Gombe); Hon. Jerry Alagbaoso (Imo); Mrs. Ruth Jumai Ango (Kaduna); and Mr. Muhammad Awwal Nayya (Kano).
Hon. Anas Isah (Katsina), Mr. Bello Idris Eneye (Kogi), Dr. Ibrahim Abdullahi (Kwara), and Alh were also appointed. Isah Jibrin (Niger); Comrade Ajimudu Bola (Ondo); Prince Ayodeji Abas Aleshinloye (Oyo); Hon. Pam Bolman (Plateau); Mr. Aaron Chukwuemeka (Rivers); Alh. Aminu Tambar (Sokoto); Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama (Taraba); Hon. Jibir Maigari (Yobe); Mr. Sani Garba (Zamfara); and Mr. Solomon Ayuba Dagami (FCT).
Until his appointment, Prof. Aliegba was the Director of the Institute for European Studies, NSUK. He also served in the Benue State Executive Council as Commissioner for Education, Rural Development and Cooperatives, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Works and Housing, and Environment under the former Governor Gabriel Suswam administration.
The FCC is a Federal Executive body established by Act No 34 of 1996 to implement and enforce the Federal Character Principle of fairness and equity in the distribution of public posts and socio-economic infrastructures among the various federating units of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and was consolidated by the provisions of the 1999 Constitution in Sections 14 and 153 for operation in a democratic system of Government.
One of its duties is to work out an equitable formula, subject to the President’s approval, for the distribution of all cadres of posts in the civil and public service of the Federation and of the State, the armed forces, the Nigerian Police Force and other security agencies, bodies corporate owned by the federal or State Government, and Extra-Ministerial Departments and parastatals of the Federation and States.
