President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally administered the oath of office to Hulayiat Ayo Omidiran as the new Chairperson of the Federal Character Commission (FCC) and to 37 commissioners representing the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The swearing-in took place on Thursday at about 4:48 p.m. at the State House, Abuja.
Omidiran, who is 59 years old and from Osun State, succeeds Dr Muheeba Dankaka and brings to the role extensive legislative and administrative experience, including two terms in the House of Representatives (2011–2019) where she represented the Ayedaade/Irewole/Isokan Federal Constituency. She also has a background in sports administrationand founded a women’s football club, Omidiran Babes FC.
Prior to her swearing-in, Omidiran was appointed by President Tinubu on August 11, 2025, and her nomination was confirmed by the Senate on November 27, 2025, following security clearance and vetting by the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs.
Alongside Omidiran, the commissioners sworn in at the ceremony include representatives from across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones, such as Peter Eze (Enugu), AbdulWasiu Bawalla (Lagos), Obinna Oriaku (Abia), Lawal Roni (Jigawa), Abubakar Bunu (Kebbi), and Dora Ebong (Akwa Ibom), among others drawn from the 36 states and FCT. Mohammed Musa was sworn in as FCC Secretary.
President Tinubu charged the newly sworn-in chairperson and commissioners to uphold fair representation and national stability, describing the commission as “the nation’s conscience” and stressing the importance of justice and equity in federal appointments and resource allocation.
The Federal Character Commission was established under Act No. 34 of 1996 and is constitutionally backed by Sections 14 and 153 of the 1999 Constitution, with a mandate to ensure the equitable distribution of public offices, opportunities and infrastructure across Nigeria’s diverse regions.
