By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – The Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs has has bemoaned the persistent recruitment irregularities, weak compliance with federal character provisions, and the worsening operational challenges confronting the Federal Character Commission (FCC).
The concerns were raised on Wednesday during an interactive session between the Committee and the leadership of the FCC in Abuja, where lawmakers and Commission officials reviewed the agency’s performance, challenges and resource needs.
Chairman of the Committee, Senator Dafinone Ede, said the Federal Character Principle remains a vital constitutional tool for fostering national unity, inclusiveness and equal opportunities among Nigerians, stressing that its effective implementation is essential to maintaining public confidence in government institutions.
He lamented that despite the constitutional mandate of the FCC, significant imbalances still exist within the public service, while many Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) have failed to cooperate fully with the Commission in carrying out its oversight responsibilities.
According to the senator, some MDAs routinely ignore requests for information, maintain poor personnel records, and circumvent established recruitment procedures, thereby undermining the integrity of the federal character framework and frustrating efforts to ensure equitable representation across the federation.
He also expressed concern over increasing allegations of recruitment irregularities and job racketeering in parts of the public service, warning that such allegations, whether proven or not, have the potential to erode public trust in government institutions.
The Committee further highlighted reports of loopholes allegedly exploited by some MDAs through the manipulation of nominal rolls and abuse of waiver provisions to bypass recruitment regulations and federal character requirements.
“Institutions entrusted with safeguarding equity must themselves remain above reproach. The Federal Character Principle is not merely about compliance but about ensuring fairness, transparency, and national cohesion,” Dafinone stated.
Responding to lawmakers’ questions, Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission, Hon. Huluyat Motunrayo Omidiran, painted a bleak picture of the Commission’s operational realities, attributing many of its difficulties to inadequate funding and constraints imposed by the envelope budgeting system.
Omidiran explained that the FCC, established under Section 153 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), is responsible not only for monitoring recruitment exercises in federal institutions but also for ensuring the equitable distribution of socio-economic amenities and infrastructural projects across the country.
She noted that the Commission operates from its headquarters in Abuja and maintains offices in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with a workforce of more than 1,100 personnel.
The FCC boss said inadequate budgetary allocations have severely limited the Commission’s ability to carry out critical functions, including field inspections, project monitoring, public sensitisation campaigns and monthly oversight visits to states.
She explained that one of the Commission’s major responsibilities involves monitoring federal projects and socio-economic interventions across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas, a task that requires extensive field operations and substantial logistical support.
“It is inappropriate for a constitutional regulatory body to depend on the same agencies it is expected to regulate for logistics and operational support. Such dependence compromises our independence and oversight functions,” she told the Committee.
Omidiran further disclosed that the Commission has been unable to sustain public enlightenment programmes due to funding constraints, despite the need to educate Nigerians on the importance of the Federal Character Principle and its role in promoting national cohesion.
She also revealed that the agency’s operational capacity has been severely weakened by the near-total collapse of its vehicle fleet.
“As we speak, none of the commissioners has an official vehicle. The car pool is virtually empty, and I am managing a fairly used vehicle as Executive Chairman, hoping it does not break down on my way to and from the office,” she said.
The FCC leadership appealed to the Senate for support in improving staff welfare, reviewing salary structures, introducing job-specific allowances, recruiting additional personnel and providing technological tools needed to strengthen the Commission’s operations.
Omidiran also urged lawmakers to support the establishment of a special Federal Character Commission Tribunal to accelerate the prosecution of individuals and institutions found to have violated federal character provisions.
She disclosed that the Commission had already commenced discussions with the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation to strengthen its legal department and enhance enforcement mechanisms.
The FCC further informed the Committee that it is pursuing reforms aimed at improving transparency and efficiency, including the digitisation of recruitment monitoring and compliance systems. As part of the initiative, the Commission recently launched a new website to facilitate better monitoring and public engagement.
In his remarks, Senator Dafinone assured the Commission that the Committee would carefully consider its requests, including improved funding, operational vehicles, technological infrastructure, staff welfare packages and stronger legal enforcement mechanisms.
He reiterated the Committee’s commitment to strengthening the legal and institutional framework required for the effective implementation of the Federal Character Principle across the country.
“The Federal Character Commission must be adequately empowered, properly funded, accountable, and proactive in advancing national unity and inclusion. Every Nigerian must have confidence that there is a place for them in the Nigerian project,” the senator said.
The interactive session formed part of the Committee’s statutory oversight functions aimed at evaluating the performance, challenges and operational needs of federal institutions responsible for promoting equity, fairness and national cohesion across Nigeria.
