Senate To Begin Investigative Hearings On Alleged Abuse Of Federal Character Principle

The Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs has announced the commencement of investigative hearings into several government agencies.

This development follows a motion moved in March 2025 by Senator Osita Ngwu (Enugu West), which was overwhelmingly adopted by the Senate.

The motion, titled “Urgent Need to Address Systemic Abuse and Ineffective Implementation of the Federal Character Principle,” decried widespread non-compliance among federal institutions.

As part of the resolution, the Senate named several agencies failing to adhere to Sections 14(3) and 14(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The Senate specifically named the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and its subsidiaries, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), National Pension Commission (PENCOM), Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), National Library of Nigeria (NLN), Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF) Nigeria Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA), among others.

The agencies were accused of a “flagrant disregard” for the federal character principles designed to ensure fair representation across all parts of the country.

In a public notice released on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Allwell Heacho Onyesoh (Rivers East), stated that the Committee has been mandated to investigate recruitment imbalances and the inequitable allocation of infrastructure across the federation. The findings are expected to be reported to the Senate within three months.

The investigative hearings will commence on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at the Equal Opportunities Hearing Room 211, Senate Building, National Assembly Complex, Abuja. Formal letters of invitation, including hearing schedules and required documentation, have been sent to all relevant MDAs and institutions.

The Committee also called on the general public to support its work by submitting relevant information or memoranda at the hearing venue or via email at: [email protected] To Begin Investigative Hearings on Abuse of Federal Character Principles

The Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs has announced the commencement of investigative hearings into several government agencies.

This development follows a motion moved in March 2025 by Senator Osita Ngwu (Enugu West), which was overwhelmingly adopted by the Senate.

The motion, titled “Urgent Need to Address Systemic Abuse and Ineffective Implementation of the Federal Character Principle,” decried widespread non-compliance among federal institutions.

As part of the resolution, the Senate named several agencies failing to adhere to Sections 14(3) and 14(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The Senate specifically named the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and its subsidiaries, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), National Pension Commission (PENCOM), Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), National Library of Nigeria (NLN), Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN)
Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF)
Nigeria Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA), among others.

These agencies were accused of a “flagrant disregard” for the federal character principles designed to ensure fair representation across all parts of the country.

In a public notice released on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Allwell Heacho Onyesoh (Rivers East), stated that the Committee has been mandated to investigate recruitment imbalances and the inequitable allocation of infrastructure across the federation. The findings are expected to be reported to the Senate within three months.

The investigative hearings will commence on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at the Equal Opportunities Hearing Room 211, Senate Building, National Assembly Complex, Abuja. Formal letters of invitation, including hearing schedules and required documentation, have been sent to all relevant MDAs and institutions.

The Committee also called on the general public to support its work by submitting relevant information or memoranda at the hearing venue.