Comply with federal character, Reps urge FG

From Ndubuisi Orji and Kemi Yesufu, Abuja

The House of Representatives has resolved to urge the Federal Government to comply with federal character principles as enshrined in Section 14(3) of the Constitution in all its appointments and recruitment into public offices.
The resolution was sequel to a motion  by Kingsley Chinda on the “Need for the Federal Government to comply with federal character principles in appointment/ recruitments into public offices.”
Speaking on the motion, Chinda said  there were concerns about lopsidedness,  in favour of certain zones,  in federal appointments.
The lawmaker said: “The Constitution says government or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity and also, to command national loyalty, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few states or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups in the government or in any of its agencies.”
The matter was referred to the Committee on Federal Character for consideration.
He listed agencies where there are apparent imbalance in the appointments to include the recent  recruitment by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) amongst others.
Chinda said  expect  urgent steps are taken to check the prevailing imbalance in the appointments and sharing of  government offices, there would always be discontent in the country, noting that it could lead to heighten ethnic gitations in the country.
Shortly after the motion was passed, the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara said it  was good that motion came at a time when a committee of the House was already working on their issue. Thereafter,
The matter was referred to the Committee on Federal Character for consideration.
The committee is expected  to undertake a comprehensive overview of all public appointments/ recruitments made in recent time,  determine their  level of compliance or otherwise with section 14(3) of the 1999 constitution( as amended)and report back to the house within four weeks.