The Acting Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Mr. Kayode Oladele, has called for a fair and equitable distribution of infrastructure projects and job opportunities nationwide.

He also proposed the creation of a joint technical working group between the FCC and the NSIA to institutionalise collaboration and promote inclusiveness in national development.

Oladele disclosed this in Abuja during a courtesy visit by the Managing Director of the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), Mr. Aminu Umar-Sadiq, on Wednesday.

He said the proposed framework would promote equity, fairness, and cohesion in the distribution of opportunities, infrastructure and jobs, in line with the constitutional mandate of the FCC.

He said: “Together, we can develop a framework that ensures projects are distributed fairly across the federation, that procurement processes give opportunities to businesses from all regions, and that jobs generated are equitably shared.

“To achieve this, we also suggest constituting a joint technical working group between our institutions. Let me say clearly, inclusion is not just about fairness. It is about making Nigeria work.”

He added that inclusion is also a pathway to strengthening national unity and driving economic growth.

In his remarks, Umar-Sadiq expressed the NSIA’s readiness to partner with the FCC in ensuring equity in the siting of projects across the country.

He explained that the NSIA, which manages Nigeria’s sovereign wealth fund, operates three portfolios, namely the Stabilisation Fund, the Future Generations Fund, and the Nigeria Infrastructure Fund.

Umar-Sadiq welcomed the proposal for a technical working group, describing it as beneficial to both institutions.

He said, “Equity in the geographical distribution of projects is fundamental because the NSIA belongs to all Nigerians. Irrespective of profitability or location, all Nigerians must feel the impact of our institution.

“In terms of the technical working group that our chairman suggested, I dare say it is more to our benefit than it is to yours. And it’s one that we are very, very excited by the privilege to actually participate in such a working group.

“And depending on how our chairman wants to actualise that, we are ready on our side to participate fundamentally in that technical working group.”