***Launches Probe into Systemic Abuse
By Mercy Gadia Adi
The Nigerian Senate has accused several government agencies, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and Pension Commission, of repeatedly breaching the Federal Character Principl in appointments, promotions, and recruitment processes.
This is a sequel to the motion on the floor of the red chamber, sponsored by Senator Ngwu Osita, PDP, Enugu West, on “Urgent Need to address systemic abuse and ineffective implementation of the Federal Character Principle in Nigeria’s Public Sector.”
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The motion highlighted the persistent challenges in achieving balance and equity within Nigeria’s public service due to limited recruitment opportunities, skewed promotions, and insufficient avenues for worker mobility outside the public sector.
According to Senator Osita Ngwu, the Federal Character Principle is enshrined in the 1999 Constitution and mandates fair representation in federal appointments to reflect the country’s diverse linguistic, ethnic, religious, and geographic groups.
Ngwu expressed concern that while recruitment opportunities are scarce, promotions are frequently based on years of service rather than merit, further marginalizing certain regions.
The senator listed several agencies that have allegedly failed to adhere to the Federal Character Principle, including NNPCL and its subsidiaries, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NAFDAC, Nigerian Ports Authority, PENCOM, and the Federal University of Technology Akure.
Ngwu claimed that these institutions have often bypassed regulations in their recruitment processes, resulting in an unfair public sector.
Ngwu warned that unchecked violations of the Federal Character laws would continue to undermine key legislative provisions, such as Section 14(d) & (e) of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, 2017.
He also expressed concerns over the Federal Character Commission, arguing that despite its constitutional responsibility, the commission remains ineffective due to underfunding, political interference, and lack of enforcement power.
In response to the allegations, the Senate instructed its Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs to conduct an investigation into all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to assess their adherence to Federal Character provisions. The committee is expected to present its findings within four weeks.
The investigation aims to determine the level of compliance with Sections 14(3) and 14(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) among MDAs. The probe will examine hiring practices, promotions, and recruitment processes to ensure fair representation and equitable distribution of employment opportunities across the country.