The Federal Character Commission (FCC) has firmly rejected allegations of job racketeering made by a group which has identified itself as the ‘Body of Commissioners’.
In response to the article titled “RE: Resolutions Of Body Of Commissioners On The Allegations Of Job Racketeering In The Federal Character Commission Among Others =Vote Of No Confidence On The Chairman Dr. Muheeba Dankaka” published on Monday, December 18, 2023, in the Daily Trust newspaper, the FCC said no such group exists within commission. The commission labeled the publication “a deliberate attempt to mislead the public and disrupt the peace being reestablished within the organisation”.
A rebuttal titled “Peace And Harmony Is Returning To FCC,” signed by the commission’s director of public affairs and communications, Dr. Chuks Okoli underscored the commission’s commitment to transparency, peace and harmony under the leadership of its substantive executive chairman, Dr. Muheeba Dankaka.
The statement clarified, “We wish to state that there is no Association or group called ‘Body of Commissioners’ in the Federal Character Commission. The commission is a governmental entity with the chairman, commissioners, secretary to the commission and the staff.”
Regarding the alleged three-year period of discontent by five commissioners, the statement highlighted multiple efforts made to address their concerns, including invitations to roundtable discussions by government bodies such as the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Federal Character and the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF). The issues raised during these discussions were addressed, including the reconstitution of 37 operational committees and the equitable distribution of over six hundred MDAs among the committees, with each commissioner heading a committee.
The statement further outlined that the secretariats of the committees were reconstituted, stakeholders’ workshops were organised across the six geopolitical zones, and committees actively engaged with MDAs on recruitment and promotion exercises. The SGF, Sen. George Akume, intervened and urged both commissioners and the executive chairman to collaborate peacefully.
According to the rejoinder, the executive chairman extended an olive branch to the aggrieved commissioners, with many reconciling and joining efforts to move the commission forward. Only five commissioners remained in opposition.
The document highlighted that the purported signatories supporting the vote of no confidence were from an attendance list of a plenary meeting in August 2023, suggesting an attempt to disrupt the returning peace within the commission.
The FCC assured the public of ongoing genuine reconciliation efforts directed by Akume.
