From the revelations at the ongoing sitting of the House of Representatives adhoc committee investigating federal ministries, departments and agencies, parastatals and tertiary institutions on mismanagement of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel information system (IPPIS), it is clear that the Federal Character Commission (FCC) is in a mess bugged down by crass incompetence and self-aggrandizement.
Before now, there had been widespread allegations of job racketeering levelled against some staff of the FCC but oftentimes, these allegations remained at the realm of speculation because none of the victims was ready to speak on it.
However, the dramatis personae in this whole show of shame came out to publicly uncover what until now was discussed in hush tones, when they appeared before the lawmakers.
It all began when some commissioners told the committee that the FCC chairperson, Muheeba Dankaka was deeply involved in job racketeering. Dankaka, the commissioners alleged, had a syndicate through which she was selling jobs to prospective job seekers for as high as N7,000,000 and as low as N750,000 depending on how lucrative the job was.
In a swift reaction when she appeared before the committee, Dankaka described the allegations as not only false, but a typical case of corruption fighting back as according to her, the commissioners were the ones involved in job racketeering.
But while allegations and counter allegations are going on between Dankaka and some commissioners, a former Integrated Payroll and Personnel information system (IPPIS) desk officer at the Federal Character Commission, Haruna Kolo told the committee that he sold jobs to Nigerian applicants on the orders of the FCC chairperson.
Specifically, Kolo, to the amazement of most Nigerians, revealed that he collected over 75 million from different persons for jobs, on the instruction of the FCC chairperson.
It behooves the committee to unravel the genuineness or otherwise of Kolo’s allegations and that shouldn’t be difficult.
There is no contesting it that Kolo’s revelations further underscored the fact that the FCC is in a state of mess and provides reasonable answer as to why the commission failed woefully in discharging its onerous responsibility of ensuring equitable distribution of jobs among the states of the federation.
It is a given that in spite of the plausible provisions of the FCC, some of which clearly spelt out steps to be taken including working out a formula for equitable distribution of positions in the public service as well as political offices, appointments in key MDAs are skewed in favour of some states.
Indeed, the startling revelations by the commissioners, Kolo and even Dankaka herself showed clearly that jobs are being traded at the FCC, an act reminiscent of the way speculators trade stocks on the floor of the stock exchange.
Like most Nigerians, as a newspaper, we are both alarmed and utterly embarrassed at the revelations being made at the House of Reps’ adhoc committee. Such are purely indicative of the enormity of the rot that permeates the FCC.
Tellingly, the FCC has failed woefully in discharging its responsibilities because some of those saddled with the task of driving the realisation of such mandates have abused the trust. Therein lies the reason for the current state of things at the commission.
In our considered opinion, the Yusuf Gagdi-led committee now has a date with history. It could elect to do the needful by ensuring thorough investigation and make appropriate recommendations that will ultimately transform the system, or indulge in business as usual. Whichever route it chooses, Nigerians are watching and will ultimately be the judge.
We are however worried that outcomes of past adhoc committees set up by the national assembly, especially where startling revelations like the one being witnessed are made, rarely get implemented. Most of such reports are currently gathering dust on the shelves. This must not be business as usual!
Regardless of what recommendations the committee eventually makes at the end of its sitting, there is an undisputed need for a total overhaul of the current leadership of the FCC. The nation cannot afford an FCC that observes its job in an obverse manner by indulging in acts that negate the reasons for its existence.
While we call for overhaul of the FCC, we also enjoin the anti-graft agencies to urgently begin the process of investigation and eventual prosecution of all those involved in this crime of an unimaginable magnitude.
