The Ekiti State Government has promised to ensure that its citizens
are not marginalised in recruitment and appointment into federal
Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
The Deputy Governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, stated this on Monday when
he received in audience the Federal Commissioner representing Ekiti
State on the Board of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Chief
Sesan Fatoba.
According to a statement by the Special Assistant (Media) to the
Deputy Governor, Odunayo Ogunmola, Fatoba was on a courtesy visit
where he presented his letter of introduction to the state government
as its representative on the FCC Board.
Egbeyemi used the opportunity to call on the Federal Government to
always consider Ekiti State in the location of key projects that will
have positive impact on the social and economic lives of the people.
The Deputy Governor who stressed that Ekiti has qualified and
competent indigenes who are eligible for appointment into federal
agencies as workers urged for fairness to ensure that they fill their
rightful quota as stipulated by law.
While attesting to the competence of Fatoba for the position, Egbeyemi
said the new appointee had performed well as Permanent Secretary in
the state civil service and later did well as Commissioner in the
first civilian administration in the state.
Describing the FCC as a very important agency of the Federal
Government, Egbeyemi assured on the support of the State Government to
make it perform its statutory functions.
The Deputy Governor said the State Government will look into the
challenges facing the Commission, with a view to rendering assistance
where necessary within the limited resources.
Speaking earlier, Fatoba solicited the support of the State Government
to make the FCC state office more comfortable and provision of good
access road, electricity and utility vehicles.
According to him, both federal government and the state government
should always collaborate in ensuring an equitable distribution of
appointments and social amenities in line with the approved quota.
He explained that the FCC is statutorily empowered to monitor and
ensure compliance with the federal character principle in the
recruitment of staff and appointment of officers in all federal
institutions.
Fatoba called on recruiting agencies of the Federal Government to
always seek clearance from the FCC in order not to run afoul of the
law.
The FCC chief disclosed that he will soon embark on a visit to all
federal institutions in Ekiti, to assess the level of compliance with
the federal character principle.
Fatoba pledged to adequately represent Ekiti interest on the FCC Board
and ensure that the state is not marginalised.
The high point of the visit was the presentation of letter of
introduction by Fatoba to the State Government as the representative
on the FCC Board.