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 between 2015–2023 covering the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
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 1999 Constitution 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 24 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 stressed that it was 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 House gave the committee four weeks to submit its report for further legislative action.
source: The Punch
