House of Representatives Committee on Federal Character has frowned at some ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) trying to take over the Federal Character Commission’s (FCC) duties.
The committee’s chairman, Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase, expressed this during an interactive session with the acting chairman of the FCC, Hon. Kayode Oladele, at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja yesterday.
Wase said section 14(3) and the Third Schedule to the Constitution were very clear about the commission’s mandate as the sole government agency saddled with such responsibility.
He said an act of parliament establishing any agency couldn’t replace the constitution, adding that agencies not complying with the Commission’s provisions were working against the Constitution, which is the country’s supreme law.
“You are a creation of the Constitution. An act of Parliament did not create you. Even though we are not undermining the act of parliament, the Constitution made it clear which is supreme. No agency can take over your job.
“We have seen letters from some agencies, and will not accept that. We want things to be done the right way and according to the law. Tell those agencies to stay off. We will not allow that, even though they refer to their establishment act.
“We have engaged several agencies, and what we see! It is not in the interest of this country. We are not happy with the interference coming from some agencies,” the former deputy speaker said.
Wase said the committee had invited the Minister of Education over some observations in the appointment of principal officers in newly established institutions, where principal officers are drawn from the same area in contravention of the law, adding that “we want to see how we can address that issue, maybe by swapping some of them.”
He said the commission’s mandate is to ensure a fair distribution of personnel and infrastructure across the country, adding that once that is done, there will be no complaints of marginalisation from any part of the country.
He also frowned at some agencies carrying out recruitment without a nominal role, adding that such an act will not ensure fair distribution of employment as required by law.
On his part, Oladele said the commission faces funding constraints in carrying out its constitutional responsibilities, including monitoring over 700 MDAs and maintaining offices in all 36 states and the FCT.
The FCC chairman said some government agencies and state governments were not working in agreement with the commission to ensure unity in the country, which is the commission’s assigned mandate.
He sought legislative backing in reviewing and amending the relevant establishment Act to grant the commission greater autonomy in enforcement and sanctions and expand its constitutional mandates to include the monitoring and enforcing of all civil rights as guaranteed by the Constitution.
Oladele said many agencies have always worked to frustrate the commission’s activities by claiming they are not under the commission’s control. At the same time, some state governments have also not cooperated with the commission.
“It is important to note that the Federal Character Commission has offices in all 36 states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory, and is statutorily mandated to monitor and regulate over 700 Federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), including applicable state-level institutions, he noted.
