Workers Want Federal Character In Appointment Of National Assembly Directors

Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), National Assembly chapter, has asked the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) to correct what it described as breaches of the federal character principle in ongoing appointments into the directorate cadre.

PASAN in a letter signed by its chairman, Sabiyyi Sunday, urged the commission to draw inspiration from President Bola Tinubu’s recent reversal of the controversial elevation of his aide-de-camp to Brigadier General — a decision they say underscored the supremacy of due process and the principle that no public official is above the law.

The National Assembly workers based their petition on constitutional and statutory mandates designed to ensure fairness in public service recruitment.

“We humbly draw attention to the provisions of section 14(3) of the 1999 constitution as amended, further detailed in the Federal Character Commission Act, Cap F7, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2024, which mandates equitable representation across Nigeria’s federating units in public appointments.

“Respecting this principle in appointments is crucial to maintaining fairness and avoiding perceptions of bias. We urge the Commission to ensure compliance to prevent potential industrial unrest,”PASAN stated.

It expressed deep concern over what it described as a pattern of skewed appointments in which states already represented in the secretary cadre had been selected again to fill vacancies, while other states within the same geopolitical zones are consistently overlooked.

According to the union, that did not

only violates the letter and spirit of the Federal Character principle but also fuels a sense of exclusion within the workforce.

The workers commended President Tinubu’s ADC reversal as a decisive demonstration of leadership anchored on fairness and integrity.

They said such an action signals a clear expectation that institutions must uphold the law without fear or favour, urging the NASC to “follow this exemplary precedent and ensure that its decisions reflect balance, justice and the highest standards of good governance.”

Warning that continued disregard for constitutional provisions could trigger industrial tension, PASAN called on the Commission to take immediate corrective action and restore confidence in the appointment process.