The Federal Character Commission (FCC) announced on Monday that it is set to organise a sensitisation programme for all newly appointed Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and heads of newly established federal agencies and parastatals across the country, outlining its character mandate.

The Acting Executive Chairman of the Commission, Hon. Kayode Oladele, disclosed this at the FCC headquarters in Abuja while receiving the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Epe, Lagos State, Dr. Adeleke Adesola Kaka, who paid him a courtesy visit.

In a statement by the FCC’s Director of Public Affairs and Communication, Chizea Christopher Chukwudi, the CMD said his visit was to explore possible collaboration with the Commission in the area of staff recruitment.

He also sought a waiver from the commission to either exempt the hospital from advertising vacancies or reduce the advertisement period from the statutory six weeks to two weeks to fast-track recruitment.

He explained further that only 10 Clinical Staff, 20 Administrative Staff and a few locum staff were handed over to him by the Lagos State Government at inception to ensure a seamless kick-off of operations in the Hospital.

He explained that at the hospital’s inception, the Lagos State Government provided 10 clinical staff, 20 administrative staff, and a few locum staff to ensure operations commenced smoothly.

However, those staff members are now required to return to the service of the state government, leaving the centre with urgent manpower gaps.

Commending the CMD for making the trip despite the distance and logistics, Hon. Oladele clarified that waivers not to advertise can be granted under certain conditions, but they must remain within the commission’s approval threshold.

He added that while FCC can approve a waiver not to advertise, it has no power to reduce the period stipulated by law for advertisements.

The FCC chairman acknowledged that FMC Epe, as one of the newly established federal medical centres, faces significant staffing challenges.

He assured the CMD of the commission’s support in helping the hospital recruit credible and competent personnel in its forthcoming exercise.

Oladele further highlighted the commission’s mandate and explained the workings of its Character Balancing Index (CBI).

He reiterated his readiness to grant a waiver not to advertise for FMC Epe, given the small number of candidates involved and the critical nature of healthcare delivery, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for strengthening the health sector.