The House of Representatives has resolved to set up an Ad hoc Committee to investigate and ensure federal character compliance across agencies of government.
The committee, when constituted is to invite and request the Federal Character Commission (FCC) to forward the returns on appointments undertaken by agencies of government under its jurisdiction between 2015 and 2023 for the probe.
The resolution was sequel to a unanimous adoption of a motion by Rep. Paul Nnamchi (LP-Enugu state) at plenary on Tuesday.
Moving the motion earlier, Nnamchi stressed the need to compel the FCC to diligently discharge its constitutional and statutory mandate and responsibility.
Nnamchi who represents Enugu East/Isi-Uzo Federal Constituency of Enugu state said that the Federal Character Commission Act was enacted in 1995 and also enshrined in the Constitution.
He said that the agency has the primary responsibility to promote, monitor and enforce compliance with the principles of the proportional sharing of all bureaucratic, economic, media and political posts at all levels of government.
The lawmaker said that no other agency of government is vested with powers to facilitate national integration through equitable, transparent and unbiased sharing of national wealth and public official positions.
According to him, 28 years after the enactment and 24 years after its constitutional entrenchment, the perception is that there exists brazen domination of the bureaucratic, economic, media and political posts at all levels by a section of the country at the expense of the others.
“The Federal Character Commission has virtually abdicated its constitutional and statutory responsibilities and degenerated into personality clash of interest amongst its commissioners as was the case about a year ago.
“The constitutional injunction is that the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be a state based on the principles of democracy and social justice, which also propagates national integration and abjure discrimination on the grounds of place of origin, sex, religion, status, ethnic or linguistic association or ties,” he said.
Nnamchi said it is within the legislative competence of the National Assembly to compel the Federal Character Commission to discharge its constitutional and statutory responsibilities.
In his ruling, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, mandated the committee, when constituted to report back within four weeks for further legislative action.
