The Federal Character Commission (FCC) and the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) have charged chairmen of Nigeria’s 774 Local Government Areas to make fairness, inclusion and equitable development central to grassroots governance.
The call was made at a two-day national workshop organised by the FCC in partnership with the PGF in Abuja, with the theme, “Deepening National Unity Through Grassroots Implementation of the Federal Character Principle.”
The workshop brought together local government chairmen from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, government officials, academics, development experts, security stakeholders and other actors to examine ways of translating the Federal Character Principle into practical governance.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, urged the council chairmen to move beyond rhetoric and ensure that government policies and programmes positively affect citizens at the grassroots.
Tinubu stressed that local government remained the tier of government closest to the people and therefore had a critical role in promoting fairness, equity, inclusion and national cohesion.
He urged the chairmen to rise above sectional interests and ensure that their administration reflected the principles of justice and equal opportunity.
The Executive Chairman of the FCC, Hon Hulayat Motunrayo Omidiran, said the workshop was designed to strengthen the implementation of the Federal Character Principle at the grassroots.
She described Nigeria’s diversity as an asset, rather than a weakness, and called on local government leaders to ensure fairness in appointments, distribution of development projects, provision of social amenities and access to opportunities.
According to her, “Nigeria’s diversity should be regarded as a strength rather than a weakness,” stressing that fairness, equity and inclusion were necessary for building a united and prosperous country.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof Wahab O. Egbewole, SAN, who delivered a keynote address, said effective grassroots governance was fundamental to national development.
Egbewole explained that the Federal Character Principle was not simply about sharing appointments but about creating a sense of belonging among Nigeria’s diverse population.
He urged the chairmen to ensure that their decisions were guided by justice, fairness, transparency and accountability.
The don said the principle should also cover access to education, healthcare, infrastructure and economic opportunities.
He challenged the chairmen to see themselves as “critical agents of national integration,” warning that decisions taken at the local government level could either strengthen or weaken citizens’ confidence in the Nigerian state.
Also speaking, the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd), called for stronger collaboration between local governments, communities, traditional institutions, religious leaders and security agencies to tackle insecurity.
Musa said local government leaders possessed valuable knowledge of their communities and could assist security agencies through early warning systems, intelligence gathering, conflict prevention and community engagement.
He stressed the need for inclusive local leadership as part of efforts to improve security at the grassroots.
In his keynote contribution, Prof Umaru Pate highlighted equitable access to healthcare and human development as key elements of inclusive governance.
Pate urged local government chairmen to strengthen primary healthcare delivery and community-based interventions, particularly for vulnerable and underserved populations.
He also called for closer collaboration among the federal, state and local governments, as well as greater use of data and evidence in identifying the needs of communities.
Representing the Chairman of the PGF, Senator Hope Uzodimma, the Forum’s Director-General, Mr Folorunso S. Aluko, said local government autonomy must be matched by accountability and responsible leadership.
Aluko urged the chairmen to embrace prudent financial management, transparent budgeting, merit-based appointments, procurement integrity, audit compliance and meaningful engagement with citizens.
He said the success of local government administration should ultimately be judged by its impact on ordinary Nigerians.
The Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, said Federal Character should not be reduced to a mechanism for sharing appointments.
He described it as a principle that promotes fairness, inclusion and a sense of belonging, urging local government leaders to use their positions to strengthen national identity and social cohesion.
Other contributors included the Director-General of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Muyi Aina; Director-General of the National Bureau of Statistics, Mr Adeyemi Adeniran; National President of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, Dr Ogbona Chime; President of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, Dr Aminu Muazu-Maifata; Managing Director of Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Plc, Mr Akinola Odeyemi; and Kano State Commissioner for Local Government, Hon Tajudeen Usman.
Their presentations focused on healthcare, data-driven governance, town planning, electricity, local government administration and socio-economic development.
The Oyo State Federal Commissioner of the FCC and Chairman of the workshop’s Planning Committee, Prince Ayodeji Abass-Aleshinloye, said the real test of the workshop would be its impact on Nigerians at the grassroots.
Aleshinloye urged the 774 chairmen to return to their councils with a renewed commitment to equitable governance, inclusive development and responsible leadership.
He said, “The ultimate objective of this workshop is to ensure that the Federal Character Principle produces measurable benefits for Nigerians.”
According to him, local governments were strategically positioned to identify the peculiar needs of their communities and ensure that infrastructure, social amenities and development opportunities were distributed fairly.
He expressed optimism that the resolutions and knowledge generated at the workshop would translate into improved grassroots governance and stronger national cohesion.
Aleshinloye also expressed appreciation to Omidiran, members of the planning committee, FCC management and staff, the PGF, speakers, facilitators, local government chairmen, delegates, security agencies and other stakeholders who contributed to the success of the workshop.
The FCC, at the end of the engagement, reaffirmed its commitment to deepening the implementation of its constitutional mandate and ensuring that fairness, equity and inclusion remained integral to governance and development across the country.
The Commission maintained that national unity must be built from the grassroots, with every Nigerian given a genuine sense of belonging regardless of location or background.