The Nigerian Senate has yesterday revealed they have directed the Management of the Federal Character Commission to respond in writing as to why there is alleged secret recruitment ongoing at the ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) of government while disregarding due process.
Senator Danjuma La’ah, the Chairman of Senate Committee on Federal Character Commission (FCC) and Intergovernmental Affairs made this known during an interview with him in Abuja.
Accordingly, the FCC management is expected to present documentary evidence affirming that there was a circular emanating from the office of the Head of Service placing an embargo on the appointments.
La’ah committee also demanded the FCC to avail detail of recruitment exercise that necessitated the allegation since the supposed placement of embargo and the criterion used in filling the vacant positions in the MDAs.
The Senator made these revelations when he appeared to defend the year 2022 budget report before the appropriation panel at the hallowed chamber.
Consequently, if this information is provided, it will facilitate the tracking of the allegation and how to further reposition the process of employing Nigerian graduates into civil service, the Senator said.
The Senator in his statement added, “We have sent an official letter to the FCC and we are still expecting them to give us details of the information we requested from them.
“We have demanded details of the recruitment exercise they’ve carried out since the so-called embargo the MDAs claimed is on employment.
“We also want to know the criteria the MDAs are adopting to carry out the replacement of retired and dead staff.
“We are also aware that some people have left the service voluntarily. How were they replaced? Did the due process follow federal character principles?
“When we get their response, we would be able to write our report and make necessary recommendations to the Senate for the required actions.”
The Senator had on Wednesday raised the alarm that some top civil servants were engaged in illegal recruitment into the civil service and at the same time claimed there was an embargo on recruitment.
He, therefore, challenged the head of MDAs to provide evidence of the circular placing embargo from the office of the Head of Service.
