DELEGATION FROM FEDERAL CHARACTER COMMISSION ON COURTESY VISIT TO KOGI SPHCDA

The Hon. Commissioner representing Kogi State at the Federal Character Commission (FCC) – Hon (Pharm) Idris Eneye Bello led a delegation on a courtesy/oversight visit to the Executive Director Kogi State PHCDA – Dr Abubakar Yakubu on Wednesday 12^th August, 2020.

Hon Bello in his address said the team scheduled sensitization visits to MDAs to familiarize with activities of the Federal Character Commission and areas of collaboration. Speaking further, he added that their mandate was to ensure equity distribution of socio-economic facilities and infrastructure among Federal units to promote unity, give a sense of belonging and alleviate agitation of aggrieved parties.

Also the State Coordinator FCC, Mr Audu Gabriel Usman expatiated on their mandate. He said the activities of FCC are on dual front: first, to ensure fairness, justice and equity in the distribution of public posts and infrastructural amenities and second, enforce compliance. Furthermore, the FCC are statutorily required to be present through recruitment process to reduce imbalances. Step by step requirements will be made available as work progresses. They would also seek staff nominal roll to ascertain staff disposition on annual basis.

Mention was made that in fairness, the Agency should tackle gender bias and inclusion of physically challenged persons.

In response, the ED KSPHCDA – Dr Abubakar Yakubu appreciated the Hon Commissioner, State Coordinator and team from FCC for the initiative to pay a courtesy visit and as well enlighten the Agency on activities of the Commission and expectations from the Agency in compliance to this National Policy. He appreciated His Excellency Governor Yahaya Bello for the Opportunity to serve in the State and that His Excellency exemplifies equity in his appointment of lieutenants which he – Dr Abubakar is following suit. He informed the team that since inception, the Agency has not done any recruitment but with the Law signed by the Governor to reshape the Agency and have Primary Health Care Under One Roof, he is hopeful that in the coming year when provision is captured in the budget, the Agency will follow and comply as provided by law and provisions of the commission.

Dr Abubakar used the opportunity to notify the team that the Agency is gender friendly enumerating quite a number of Directors and programme Officers that are women. In addition, he gave a brief of the Agency’s interaction with Persons living with disabilities only a couple of days back. All pointing to the fact that the Agency under his leadership is poised to doing what is correct and needful according to law and standard, ensuring that no one is left behind in the scheme of things, as much as possible.

Adding their voices to the session, Directors of Community Health Services and Social Development – Mr Musa Olusegun and  Planning, Research and Statistics – Mr Olusanmi Sola expressed gratitude to the team for the brief on the activities of the Commission, they also lauded the efforts of the ED in handling the affairs of the Agency who they described as unbiased in his decisions of administration. They pledged their support to the ED in collaboration with the Commission in the hope that the objectives of the Commission will be achieved.