Hon. Kayode Oladele, the Acting Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), revealed that under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, the northern region occupies 56.3 percent of federal appointments.
Speaking at a one-day workshop in Abuja titled “Strengthening Leadership and Management Excellence in the Federal Character Commission in Line with the Renewed Hope Agenda,” Oladele shared that these statistics were derived from the commission’s comprehensive data analysis.
The findings indicate that the North commands 56.3 percent of federal leadership roles, while the South holds 43.7 percent. This allocation reflects the administration’s dedication to fairness and national equilibrium, consistent with constitutional mandates.
“These statistics clearly demonstrate intentional inclusivity and highlight the President’s dedication to maintaining national balance through the faithful application of the Federal Character principle,” Oladele emphasized.
Examining the cabinet composition, the North-west and South-west regions each contribute 11 ministers, making up 22.9 percent of the 48-member cabinet. The North-central region follows with eight ministers (16.6 percent), and the North-east has seven (14.5 percent). The South-south and South-east regions have six (12.5 percent) and five (10.4 percent) ministers, respectively.
Beyond ministerial appointments, the commission’s data reveals that the North-west leads in federal leadership roles with 157 positions, representing 22.1 percent of the total. The North-central holds 139 positions (19.5 percent), while the South-west accounts for 132 (18.5 percent). The North-east has 105 positions (14.7 percent), with the South-south and South-east regions holding 91 (12.8 percent) and 88 (12.4 percent) positions, respectively.
Oladele pointed out that although the North enjoys a numerical lead, the data also reflects the President’s commitment to ensuring equitable representation across all geopolitical zones.
He clarified that the federal character principle serves as a mechanism to foster unity in diversity rather than a strict quota system.
“The federal character principle aims to promote national cohesion and equitable representation. It is designed to unite Nigerians by fostering a sense of inclusion, not to create divisions,” he explained.
Furthermore, Oladele affirmed the commission’s ongoing dedication to enhancing adherence to this principle within all ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) of government.
As a former legislator and human rights advocate, Oladele noted that the current statistics focus on key federal leadership roles and exclude special advisers, senior special assistants, presidential aides, as well as service chiefs and heads of security and law enforcement agencies.
He assured that the Federal Character Commission will persist in monitoring appointments to guarantee fair representation of all regions, aligning with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
