SENATE BEGINS INVESTIGATIONS INTO FEDERAL CHARACTER ABUSES
A Senate Committee has launched a broad inquiry into systemic abuses of the federal character principle by top government agencies. The investigation, announced Tuesday by Senator Allwell Heacho Onyesoh (Rivers East), Chair of the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs, aims to uncover imbalances in recruitment practices and lopsided allocation of infrastructure.
The probe follows a motion sponsored in March by Senator Osita Ngwu (Enugu West), which highlighted widespread non-compliance with Sections 14(3) and 14(4) of the 1999 Constitution. Named agencies include the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), NAFDAC, NDIC, PENCOM, FUTA, and SMEDAN, among others. These institutions have been accused of marginalizing specific regions in employment and resource distribution.
The Senate will begin hearings on May 7, 2025, at the Equal Opportunities Hearing Room in the National Assembly Complex. Agencies have been officially invited and are expected to provide documentation supporting their recruitment and development strategies. The public has also been invited to submit memoranda or whistleblower accounts via a designated email channel.
The committee’s findings are due within three months and could trigger legislative reforms or administrative sanctions. The probe reflects rising concern over equity and national unity amid accusations that some regions dominate federal appointments while others are left behind.
