Omidiran  Seeks Strategic Partnership with Budget Ministry on Infrastructure Balancing Index

By Andrew Abah, Abuja

The Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Hon. Hulayat Motunrayo Omidiran, has called for stronger collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning to advance the equitable distribution of infrastructural facilities, socio-economic amenities and development projects across the country in line with the Commission’s constitutional mandate.

Omidiran made the call during a courtesy visit by the FCC delegation to the Minister of State for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, on Tuesday in Abuja, where she also sought the ministry’s support for enhanced funding to enable the Commission effectively discharge its responsibilities.

Speaking during the meeting, the FCC boss revealed that the Commission is currently developing an Infrastructure Balancing Index (IBI) to strengthen its constitutional mandate of monitoring and promoting the equitable distribution of socio-economic amenities, infrastructural facilities and development projects across the federation.

“The Commission is developing an Infrastructure Balancing Index that will serve as a strategic tool for monitoring the distribution of infrastructural facilities, social amenities and development projects across the country. Our objective is to ensure fairness, inclusiveness and balanced access to government interventions in every part of Nigeria,” Omidiran said.

The former lawmaker explained that the proposed framework would complement the existing Character Balancing Index, which guides equitable representation and recruitment in public institutions.

“While the Character Balancing Index focuses on fair representation in public service appointments, the Infrastructure Balancing Index will provide an objective mechanism for assessing the spread of infrastructural facilities and socio-economic amenities across the country. This will help ensure that no community or region is left behind in the distribution of national resources and development opportunities,” she added.

Responding, the Minister of State for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, reaffirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to driving economic growth through the Renewed Hope Development Plan, which adopts a bottom-up approach aimed at stimulating economic activities from the ward level to the national level.

Dr Uzoka-Anite further disclosed that the ministry is currently undertaking a comprehensive survey and mapping exercise of all wards nationwide as part of preparations for the National Development Plan (2026–2033).

“The Renewed Hope Development Plan is designed to unlock economic opportunities at the grassroots by identifying and harnessing the unique resources, talents and comparative advantages of every ward across the country. Sustainable national development must begin from the grassroots and grow upwards through targeted interventions and economic empowerment,” the minister said.

Both institutions reiterated their readiness to deepen collaboration in support of the Renewed Hope Agenda and the shared objective of ensuring equitable distribution of opportunities, infrastructural facilities and socio-economic benefits across Nigeria.