Since President Muhammadu Buhari nominated and appointed Dr Muheeba Farida Dankaka as the chairman of the Federal Character Commission, FCC, many have concluded that indeed, the wake up by the president on the present FCC members to sancrosantly fulfill its mandate to the country by the implementation of its enabling acts is finally been heeded.
They recognised and noticed that the problem is that those who select and recruit do so with motive that have little to do with a transparent and excellent discharge of duty. If the quality in terms of integrity and competence is anything to go by, merit appears so glaringly to be the least consideration. This explains the degeneration of leadership and governance to the present level in the country. This explains her reforms in the Federal Character Commission.
The difference between the Muheeba Dankaka’s FCC and the preceding ones is today glaring because to her while the principles of the Federal Character Commission is so vivid and essentially to create a balance, to her it should be based on merit such that if we are to reserve an office for a particular zone, that zone should be required to produce its best candidate. This is because, to her, Federal Character should not be pursued at the expense of merit and competence.
She is convinced there is no zone or state in fulfilment of the federal character principle that cannot offer quality human resources for any office. This is what she is doing differently that she is being applauded by all.
She has consistently explained that the principles of the federal character as enshrined in the constitution of Nigeria is for such laudable purposes and reasons as inclusion, representation, sense of belonging and balance in the polity and needs to be embraced by all Nigerian.
Above all, this character principles serves as a uniting purpose in this multi-ethnic, multi-religious country of many nations. Indeed in her support this reasons are enshrined in section 4 paragraph 3 of the extant constitution thus- the composition of the government of the federation or any of its agencies and conducts of its affairs shall be carried out in such a way and manner that it reflects the federal character of Nigeria and to promote national unity and to command national loyalty, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few states or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups or in that government or any of its agencies.
It is instructive to know that section 14 paragraph 4 restates this principles for the states and local governments. As a constitutional stipulations, it may be said then that any government that violates this very necessary provisions has not only broken the law, the personnel of that government has also betrayed his oath of office.
The authors of the constitution have also in their wisdom, enshrined a federal character commission which Dr. Muheeba Dankaka heads with its operational duties and responsibilities and powers spelt out in the 3rd schedule part 1 to give effect to the provisions of the quoted sections.
She has today being promoting, monitoring and enforcing compliances with the principles of the proportional sharing of all bureaucratic, economic, media, and political posts of all levels of governments to which the commission maintains 24 committees as well as branches in states and local governments.
She has made sure that affirmative actions, quota systems and catchment areas for junior staffs are designated to target and benefit disadvantaged groups that would otherwise be marginalised. It is trite to state that culture and other forms of diversity tends to create structural and horizontal inequalities, generate discontent, can lead to conflict, and in turn destabilise the state.
To safeguard and prevent the peace and progress of the state, the 1999 constitution is clear and unequivocal in the section 15 paragraph 4 that the state shall foster a feeling of belonging, involvement among the various peoples of the federation to the end that loyalty to the nation shall overrides sectional loyalties,
Muheeba Dankaka has consistently operated from the angle that merit and federal character are not mutually exclusive, what is required is that every representative sections offers its first eleven candidate for service to the fatherland. That is an act of patriotism. Nigeria can make the much talked about progress only if the round pegs are always put in their fitting holes. A value system rewards talents and enterprise and it is these that would drive sustainable growth and this explains the workings of Muheeba Dankaka.
It is regrettable that even when a public officials say the right words and things which indicates that they know the right things to do. The problem is that they do not walk the talk but Muheeba walks her talk and that is the difference. Diversity in a polity can be a strength or a weakness depending on how it is managed by the persons entrusted with the affairs of state. Armed with a constitutional provision, she sees no reason why our federal character principles cannot be implemented to the later and she is getting us there because their is no reason for any government to fail for inclusiveness, balance and stability in the political and administrative set up of this country for diverse diversity. She is today convinced that if the FCC act is vigorously and transparently implemented Nigeria would stabilise. In the other hand stability, peace, and development eludes a country that is controlled by provincial minded leadership.
– Musa Wada writes from Abuja.
