President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has charged the 774 Local Government Chairmen across the country to uphold fairness, equity and inclusiveness in the distribution of resources, appointments and opportunities in their respective councils as part of efforts to deepen national unity and strengthen grassroots governance.

The President gave the charge on Monday at a workshop organised by the Federal Character Commission (FCC) in collaboration with the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) for Local Government Chairmen on the implementation of the Federal Character Principle.

Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, Tinubu said local government councils occupy a strategic position in Nigeria’s governance structure and must reflect the diversity of the country through fair and balanced administration.

He noted that the Federal Character Principle, enshrined in Section 14(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), remains a critical instrument for promoting inclusiveness, justice and a sense of belonging among all Nigerians.

“Nigeria’s diversity remains one of its greatest endowments. Our multiplicity of cultures, ethnicities and beliefs forms a vibrant national tapestry that must be carefully managed through fairness, justice and inclusiveness,” the President said.

According to him, local government chairmen, as leaders closest to the people, have the responsibility of ensuring transparency in administration, fairness in appointments and equitable distribution of resources and opportunities.

“You must embody the principles of fairness in appointments, transparency in administration, and balance in the distribution of opportunities and resources.

“By doing so, you strengthen trust in government and reinforce national unity,” he stated.

Tinubu urged the council chairmen to rise above sectional interests and embrace a broader national outlook that prioritises unity, justice and inclusion, stressing that effective implementation of the Federal Character Principle at the grassroots would enhance social cohesion, reduce conflicts and create a conducive environment for economic growth and development.

The President described the workshop, themed “Translating Federal Character Principles into Local Governance: Bridging Policy and Practice,” as a call to action aimed at moving beyond policy discussions to practical implementation.

Earlier in her welcome address, the Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission, Hon. Hulayat Motunrayo Omidiran, said the workshop was designed to deepen national unity through effective implementation of the Federal Character Principle at the grassroots level.

She noted that local governments remain the bedrock of governance and the closest tier of government to the people, making them critical to promoting inclusion, peaceful coexistence and national integration.

According to Omidiran, Nigeria’s ethnic, linguistic and religious diversity should be viewed as a strength capable of driving national development when managed with fairness and justice.

“Local Governments play a crucial role in promoting unity and managing diversity within communities. Through equitable distribution of opportunities, fair representation, inclusive leadership and community engagement, they can strengthen trust among citizens and reinforce national integration from the grassroots upward,” she said.

The FCC chairman also commended the Tinubu administration’s efforts toward strengthening local government autonomy, describing it as a major step toward deepening democracy, improving service delivery and accelerating grassroots development.

In a goodwill message, the Director-General of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), Folorunso Aluko, said local government remains the level at which citizens encounter government most directly and where public policies have the most visible impact on daily life.

Aluko stressed that local government autonomy must be accompanied by greater accountability, transparency and prudent management of public resources.

“Greater authority must produce higher standards of transparent budgeting, prudent financial management, merit-based appointments, procurement integrity, audit compliance and meaningful citizen engagement,” he said.

He added that the Federal Character Principle should not be reduced to mere numerical representation but should be seen as a constitutional and moral instrument for promoting justice, inclusion and national cohesion.

The PGF Director-General urged the council chairmen to see themselves as custodians of public trust and frontline builders of the Nigerian federation, insisting that every public resource must address genuine needs while appointments and projects must be guided by competence, fairness and measurable impact.

The workshop brought together local government chairmen from across the country, senior government officials, commissioners of the Federal Character Commission, policy experts and development stakeholders to deliberate on strategies for strengthening inclusive governance and national integration at the grassroots level.

Please follow and like us: