The Nigerian Senate has opened a formal investigation into alleged breaches of the federal character principle in recruitment and appointments by federal ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).
The probe, led by the Senate Committee on Federal Character, began on Wednesday with an interactive session involving top officials from various federal institutions. The move follows a resolution passed on March 25, stemming from a motion by Senator Osita Ngwu (Enugu West), the Senate Minority Whip.
The federal character principle, enshrined in Sections 14(3) and 14(4) of the 1999 Constitution, mandates equitable representation of Nigeria’s diverse ethnic and regional groups in public appointments to promote national unity and prevent dominance by any one group.
Public dissatisfaction over persistent violations of this principle has grown in recent years, with many Nigerians alleging marginalisation and imbalance in federal appointments.
Committee Chairman Senator Allwell Onyesoh (Rivers East) emphasized the importance of enforcing the principle, describing it as “fundamental to national cohesion.” He expressed concern over systemic abuse and criticized the Federal Character Commission for failing to enforce compliance effectively.
“The principle is now more honoured in the breach than in observance,” Onyesoh said. He proposed the creation of a Federal Character Compliance Tribunal to strengthen enforcement mechanisms.
He assured that the committee’s approach would be corrective, not punitive. “We aim to foster accountability, reinforce equity, and restore public trust in national institutions,” he stated, adding that the committee will use investigative hearings, interactive sessions, and field assessments as part of its audit.
Onyesoh called for full cooperation from MDAs, civil society groups, and the general public, warning that the Senate would invoke its constitutional powers under Sections 88 and 89 of the Constitution if necessary.
He also revealed that President Bola Tinubu fully supports the investigation. “Those who think they can hide under the presidency will be disappointed. The time for accountability has come,” he said.
Vice Chairman of the committee, Senator Simon Lalong (Plateau South), reinforced the committee’s commitment to addressing abuse of the federal character policy in the interest of national unity.
Scheduled to appear before the committee starting Monday are:
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The Federal Character Commission (FCC)
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The Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC)
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Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA)
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National Pension Commission (PenCom)
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Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)