The House of Representatives on Tuesday resolved to set up an ad-hoc committee to ask the Federal Character Commission to make available to it, details of appointments undertaken by Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies under its jurisdiction between 2015–2023.
The resolution was made following the adoption of a motion titled “Need to compel the Federal Character Commission to diligently discharge its constitutional and statutory mandate and responsibility” moved by Paul Nnamchi during Tuesday’s plenary.
Nnamchi who represents Isi-Uzo/Enugu East Federal Constituency noted that the FCC Act was enacted in 1995 and enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) with the primary responsibility to promote, monitor and enforce compliance with the principles of the equitable distribution of all bureaucratic, economic, media and political positions across all tiers of government.
According to him, no other constitution in Nigeria’s history entrenched such regulatory body and vested same with powers to facilitate national integration through equitable, transparent and unbiased sharing of national wealth and public official positions.
The federal lawmaker lamented that 28 years after the enactment aimed at national cohesion and equal opportunities, and twenty-four years after its constitutional entrenchment, public perception is that there is an unchecked domination of bureaucratic, economic, media and political positions by a section of the country to the detriment of others.
“The FCC 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 added.
He also noted that the 1999 Constitution empowers the National Assembly with the categorical powers under section 88(2) (6) to expose corruption, inefficiency or waste in the execution or administration of laws within its legislative competence and in the disbursement or administration of funds appropriated by it as “our core oversight and supervisory duty.”
He further argued that by Order Seventeen, Rule 1 (a) b) of the Standing Orders of the House, all ministries, statutory agencies, bodies or corporations shall forward to the speaker all reports required by statute within three months of the close of the reporting period, and any violation of the same attracts sanctions as provided in the Legislative houses (Power and Privileges) Act, 2017.
He also stressed that it is within the legislative competence of the National Assembly especially its relevant Committee when constituted, to compel the FCC to perform its discharge duties in accordance with the law.
The committee has four weeks to submit its report for further legislative action.
