The Senate at the plenary on Tuesday resolved to look into what it described as the systemic abuse of federal character principles in recruitment, promotion, political interference in all ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).
It also resolved to investigate the uneven infrastructural development across the country and to determine their compliance with relevant sections of the constitution including sections 14(3) and 14(4) as amended.
The resolutions followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Sen. Osita, Ngwu, the minority whip.
Moving the motion, Senator Ngwu noted the persistent challenges in achieving balance and equity within Nigeria’s public service “due to limited recruitment opportunities, skewed promotions based solely on years of service, and insufficient avenues for worker mobility outside the public sector.”
He also noted that the federal character principle contained in the 1999 constitution demands fair representation in federal appointments to reflect the linguistic, ethnic, religious, and geographic diversity of the country.
According to him, “the process of addressing public sector disparities has been undermined by institutional inertia and a lack of accountability, particularly as recruitment at senior levels is influenced more by internal preferences than by merit and fairness.”
This is as he added that if unchecked, the situation will erode the expected impact of Section 14(d) & (e) of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, 2017, Part.I(1) (2) of the Subsidiary Legislation 23 of 1997 and Sections 11(2) of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011.
He expressed concerns that the Federal Character Commission (FCC), whilst constitutionally empowered, remains hindered by chronic underfunding, political interference and limited enforcement capabilities.
He said, “Aware that Section 14(3) & (4) of the Constitution, which unequivocally stipulate that “no predominance of persons from a few states or from a few ethnic or sectional groups” should exist within the federal government or its agencies.
Also aware that despite a focus on geographical quotas, imbalances persist between institutions, often relocating problems rather than resolving them, while certain regions remain underrepresented.
“Also observes that the quota system has, in many cases, created confusion between merit-based recruitment and equitable state representation, to the detriment of discipline, morale and institutional efficiency.
The lawmakers mandated its Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs to conduct thorough investigative hearings on all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MIDAs) of the Federal Government with a view to immediately ascertaining their degrees of compliance with the provisions of Sections 14(3) and 14(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), ensuring fair and equitable representation across all regions and ethnic groups in appointments, promotions and recruitment and report back in four weeks.
Highlights the constitutional criteria for equitable distribution of employment which requires that each state contributes its proportionate quota of 2.75% of the national workforce; and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to account for 1.00% of the workforce; while catchment areas are to address localized recruitment for junior staff up to 75% of positions.
“Regrets that against the spirit of Order 96(27)(b) of the Senate Standing Orders 2023 (as amended) and Sections 62, 88, 89, 14(3)-(4) and the Third Schedule Part I C8(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) which bestowed on its Committee on Federal Character and InterGovernmental Affairs the power of legislative oversight in matters connected to the implementation and monitoring of the policy, it is deemed that various federal institutions including NNPCL and its subsidiaries, NUPRC, NAFDAC, NPA, PENCOM, NDIC, FUTA, NLN, SMEDAN, ECN, SMDE, NNRA have consistently failed to adhere to federal character mandates, often bypassing regulations in their recruitment exercise (evidences abound).”
