The First Lady of Nigeria, Oluremi Tinubu, on Tuesday, called on citizens to actively use the Federal Character Commission’s (FCC) new website to interact positively with the government, access vital information, and help build stronger democratic structures.
Speaking through her representative, the wife of the Deputy Senate President, Hajiya Laila Barau Jibrin, at the platform’s launch in the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja, the First Lady stressed that the site’s impact hinges on widespread citizen participation to foster openness, responsibility, and inclusive decision-making.
“I also encourage Nigerians to take full advantage of this platform, engage constructively, seek information, and contribute to the strengthening of our democratic institutions,” she said.
Mrs Tinubu hailed the website as a key step forward for the FCC’s growth and the nation’s unity, viewing it not just as technical progress but as a firm step into digital-era governance. She explained it would bridge the gap between the FCC and the public with quick information access, smoother processes, and clear interaction pathways, all in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda focused on technology-driven, inclusive progress.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, represented by Sadiq Wanka, praised the FCC’s leadership for using innovation to boost unity and efficiency.
“This initiative reflects the administration’s commitment to leveraging technology to strengthen governance systems, promote fairness, and ensure that opportunities are equitably distributed across the federation,” he said.
In his opening address, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, called the launch a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s drive for fairness, clarity, and broad-based governance, underscoring the FCC’s essential role in the Constitution. Akume highlighted the Commission’s duty to guarantee balanced representation amid Nigeria’s diversity as both a legal requirement and a necessity for national unity.
“The principle of federal character is fundamental to reinforcing citizens’ confidence that the Nigerian state belongs to all, irrespective of geography, ethnicity or creed,” he said.
He urged the FCC to make the site a powerful tool for openness, better services, and accountability via live data, rules, and results tracking. Akume advised embracing data analytics, openly sharing compliance information, and becoming a trusted source of MDA-level data breakdowns. He also advocated for digital aids for smarter regulation to spot and fix imbalances early, alongside easy feedback systems, complaint lines, and outreach—especially targeting the youth, NGOs, and businesses.
The FCC Executive Chairman, Hulayat Motunrayo Omidiran, in her welcome remarks, presented the website as a major upgrade matching international standards and modernising operations.
The site, she said, centralises details on policies, hiring, compliance, and events, while boosting ties between the FCC, MDAs, and citizens. It promises greater visibility, speed, accountability, and structured stakeholder input; for MDAs, it serves as a compliance guide, and for analysts, a data goldmine.
“This milestone represents not just a technological advancement but a reaffirmation of our commitment to fairness, equity and balanced representation in the distribution of public opportunities,” she said, pledging ongoing improvements.
The event attracted top officials, MDA leaders, diplomats, and development partners, signalling strong backing for the FCC’s digital shift.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives and Federal Character Committee Chair, Idris Wase, sent goodwill via a representative.
“The House of Representatives recognises this initiative as a critical step toward strengthening transparency and accountability in public service,” Hon. Wase said.
“Digital platforms such as this will not only enhance oversight and compliance but also promote equitable access to opportunities, which lies at the heart of the Federal Character principle. We commend the leadership of the Commission for aligning its operations with global best practices and for demonstrating that governance can be both inclusive and technology-driven.”
Attendees included heads from NIMASA, NMDPRA, the Code of Conduct Bureau, NFIU, the Office of the Statistician-General, National Hospital Abuja, DSS, EFCC, FHA, ICPC, and NIDCOM (led by Abike Dabiri-Erewa), alongside Vice-Chancellors from the Universities of Ilorin and Abuja.
