House of Representatives, on Thursday, tasked Heads of various Federal Government-owned Institutions on the need to comply with the provisions of the federal character as stipulated in relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution.
Chairman, House Committee on Federal Character, Hon. Idris Wase gave the charge in Abuja, during the flag-off of investigation into the recruitment process in the 12 River Basin Authority.
While addressing Managing Directors of Hadejia-Jama’a River Basin Authority and Upper-Niger Basin Development Authority on the agencies’ staff strength and recruitment process as it relates to federal character principles, Hon. Wase warned against contravention of the federal character principles.
The former Deputy Speaker in the 9th National Assembly stated that all staff recruitment in all the ministries, departments, and agencies of the federal government must reflect the principles of federal character, observed that the initiative was aimed at promoting national unity within these entities.
While grilling the Managing Director of the Hadejia-Jama’a River Basin Authority, Mr. Mahmud Dankwali, the lawmaker said that there is an anomaly in the agency’s documents submitted to the committee on its staff recruitment process.
He informed that the lopsidedness in the latest recruitment of staff by the agency does not reflect the geo-political zones of the country.
Responding to the queries, the Managing Director of the agency, Mr. Mahmud Dankwali affirmed that the staff strength of the agency is 275, in which the North-West has the highest number.
He said that Kano State has the highest number with 155 staff, while Katsina has 4 staff, Kebbi 2, Edo 1, Anambra 1, and other states have no staff.
He also hinted that the last recruitment of 190 staff in the agency was done in 2018, adding that all the staff were recruited based on geo-political zones.
In the same vein, the Committee also grilled the Managing Director of the Upper-Niger River Basin Development Authority, Professor M.A. Ali, on the agency’s staff strength and recruitment of staff, and demanded relevant documents.
Worried by the development, the lawmakers who spoke during the investigative hearing insisted on strict adherence to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution on even spread of staff across the 36 states of the Federation and FCT.
While ruling, Hon. Wase demanded for list of applications received, names of shortlisted candidates, and the list of successful candidates that passed the examinations conducted on their recruitments.
Hence, he directed the heads of both Agencies to re-appear on Tuesday, 23rd July, 2024.
