Calls for greater transparency in the distribution of federal employment opportunities have intensified, with APC chieftain Olatunbosun Oyintiloye urging the Federal Character Commission to ensure that recruitment is not influenced by powerful individuals.

Oyintiloye, speaking in Osogbo, Osun State, appealed to the commission’s Executive Chairman, Ayo Hulayat Omidiran, to stand firm against intimidation or pressure while carrying out her responsibilities.

According to him, the credibility of federal recruitment depends on giving qualified Nigerians a fair chance, regardless of their background or connections.

He said the FCC should strengthen its oversight of recruitment processes and prevent situations where applicants are disadvantaged through manipulation or other improper practices.

“The FCC must adopt a renewed commitment to building a commission where merit, fairness and the principles of federal character guide the management of employment opportunities across the public service” Oyintiloye said.

His appeal comes shortly after Omidiran publicly reiterated that federal government jobs were not for sale and that employment opportunities should be available to Nigerians regardless of social status.

Oyintiloye said the position of the FCC was particularly important because of its constitutional responsibility to promote equitable representation in federal institutions.

He also praised the commission for addressing concerns over fairness in recruitment and allegations of corrupt practices, saying greater openness could help rebuild public confidence.

The APC chieftain further urged the commission to ensure that recruitment opportunities are communicated clearly and that qualified applicants from all parts of the country are given an equitable chance.

He expressed confidence that reforms under Omidiran could strengthen the FCC’s credibility, while encouraging job seekers to rely on legitimate recruitment announcements rather than individuals claiming to have connections within the commission.

The FCC itself has warned Nigerians about people offering supposed shortcuts into federal employment, stressing that it does not sell jobs or select candidates for federal appointments.

An early-morning building collapse in Enugu has left one person dead and four others injured after a four-storey structure under construction suddenly gave way in the Independence Layout area of the state.

The incident occurred around 6 a.m. on Sunday on Ogbalu Street, where workers were reportedly sleeping inside the construction site when the building collapsed.

Four workers were pulled from the debris alive and taken to the Enugu State Teaching Hospital for medical treatment.

Authorities said six people had been sleeping at the site before the incident, but one of them had reportedly stepped out shortly before the structure came down. The body of another victim was recovered from the rubble.

The rescue operation has drawn the involvement of several emergency and security agencies, including the National Emergency Management Agency, Nigerian Red Cross Society, State Emergency Management Agency, Enugu State Capital Territory Development Authority and the Police.

Officials are still working at the scene to determine whether anyone else may be trapped beneath the debris.

The cause of the collapse remains unknown as of the time of reporting.

The incident has also renewed questions about compliance with construction standards, site safety and the effectiveness of regulatory monitoring in Enugu.

Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has directed security agencies to arrest anyone found to have been involved in the reported killing of his associate, Olamilekan Ajagungbade, popularly known as Emir Ajagungbade.

Ajagungbade was reportedly shot dead in Ile-Ife on Sunday amid a dispute connected to the leadership of a motor park.

Reacting to the incident, Adeleke ordered Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Zungura to take immediate action against those responsible. The directive was disclosed by the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed.

The governor also ordered rival groups involved in the park dispute to leave the motor parks while security agencies work to restore calm.

“There will be no sacred cows as all culprits will be brought to book” Adeleke said, while urging residents to remain calm.

As part of his response, the governor announced plans to bring back the Park Management System across the state, saying an Executive Order would soon be issued to provide the legal backing for the arrangement.

The renewed system is expected to regulate the operation of motor parks and garages and address disputes over their management.

Ajagungbade was described in the report as a close associate of the governor and a member of the Accord Party.

The circumstances surrounding the shooting and the identities of those responsible had not been fully disclosed at the time of reporting.