Follow the principle of federal character and appoint an official from the South East to head the FRSC – Blueprint Newspapers Limited

The National Council for Civil Society of Nigeria (NCSCN) coalition on Wednesday asked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to appoint a qualified official from the South East to head the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

Recall that Tinubu recently appointed Shehu Mohammed as the FRSC Corps Marshal to replace Dauda Biu who was appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2022.

However, the Executive Director of NCSCN at a press conference held in Abuja, Dr. Raymond Edoh, said the appointment of an official from the Southeast as head of the FRSC would be in line with the principle of federal character.

He named the heads of paramilitary agencies; Nigeria Police – IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps – Dr. Ahmed Audi, Department of State Service – Mr. Yusuf Magaji Bichi.

Others include the Nigeria Customs Service – Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, Nigeria Immigration Service – Kemi Nandap, Nigeria Correctional Service – Haliru Nababa, Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency – Mohammed Buba Marwa.
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission – Mr. Ola Olukayode, Independent and Corrupt Practices Commission – Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, National Food and Drug Administration and Control – prof. My Adeyeye.

Talking about the list, he stated that it reveals that no employee or official from the Southeast is head of any of the agencies mentioned.

He said: “Recall that the Federal Character Principle in Nigeria arose from the need to ensure equitable distribution of government appointments to promote social inclusion, representation, sense of belonging and balance in society.

“The basic philosophy is to ensure equal access to representation in the public service in order to limit the dominance of one or a few sections. The Federal Character Commission (FCC) was subsequently established by Act No. 34 of 1996 as a federal executive body to implement and enforce the Federal Character Principle, based on fairness and equality.

“The commission has achieved remarkable achievements in the country’s civil service in terms of employment, but the same cannot be said for the appointments of heads of security agencies and paramilitary establishments over the decades,” Edoh said.

He continued: “With the retirement last week of the outgoing Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps, the general expectation and sound assumption was that the next Corps Marshal of the FRSC would be considered from the South East zone.

“Moreover, our thorough findings show that over the course of 9 dispensations and 36 years since the enactment of the law and the formal appointments of successive Corps Marshals, the following are the official records;

“Dr Olu Agunloye. 1988 -1994., Major General Haldu Anthony Hananiya (rtd) 1994 – 1999, Danyaro Ali Yakasai. 1999–2000, Abba Wakilbe, 2000–2003, Major General Haldu Anthony Hananiya (rtd) 2003–2007. Others include Osita Chidoka, 2007-2014, Boboye Oyeyemi 2014-2022, Ali Biu 2022-2024 and Mr. Shehu Mohammed (now confirmed and decorated),” the Executive Director said.

Edoh, therefore, appealed to President Tinubu to encourage national unity and integration by taking advantage of the retirement of Mr. Dauda Ali Biu as the FRSC Corps Marshal.

“And appoint a competent officer in the corps from the Southeast to balance the equation and change the architectural configuration of the paramilitary agencies of our beloved country,” he said.

Also speaking at the conference, Director South West, NCSCN, Mr. Yemi Success said that every zone is equal and everyone has the right to enjoy everything that is pleasant.