ABUJA: The Senate has directed its Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs to conduct a comprehensive investigation into all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) as well as the nation’s infrastructure development.
The investigation will assess their compliance with Sections 14(3) and 14(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
This resolution came after a motion was raised by Senator Osita Ngwu, who highlighted the ongoing challenges in achieving equity within Nigeria’s public service. These challenges include limited recruitment opportunities, promotions based more on seniority than merit, and limited career mobility for workers outside the public sector.
Lawmakers pointed out that, despite constitutional provisions that mandate fair representation across ethnic, linguistic, religious, and geographical groups, significant imbalances persist.
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The Senate specifically criticized several federal institutions, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and its subsidiaries, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), for allegedly failing to comply with federal character requirements in their recruitment processes.
The committee is expected to present its findings and recommendations within three months, aimed at ensuring fair and equitable representation in federal appointments, promotions, recruitment, and infrastructure distribution across the country’s more than 900 MDAs.
