The House of Representatives’ Ad-hoc Committee Investigating Federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), and Tertiary Institutions on Mismanagement, Personnel Recruitment, Employment Racketeering, and Gross Mismanagement of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), has issued a strong warning to the leaders of government agencies, urging them to prioritize the interests of Nigeria rather than their own local governments or states.
During the committee’s recent hearing in Abuja, Chairman Hon. Yusuf Gagdi emphasized the need to rectify the employment lopsidedness uncovered in the agencies under investigation. Hon. Gagdi expressed his disappointment that some individuals entrusted with significant responsibilities are favoring their own communities while depriving other Nigerians of employment opportunities.
Two agencies that appeared before the committee—the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute and the Nigeria Hydrological Service Agency—failed to comply with the Federal Character Commission’s due process, highlighting evident employment imbalances. The committee noticed that the CEOs of both agencies disproportionately hired individuals from their respective states and local government areas, thus excluding other qualified Nigerians.
In response to this unfair practice, the committee members criticized the agencies for their biased employment practices, emphasizing the need for equal opportunities for all Nigerians.
The Director-General of the Nigeria Building and Road Research Institute, Prof. Samson Duna, stated that the agency had only conducted two recruitment exercises in 2015 and 2018, with no subsequent hiring since then. However, upon scrutinizing the agency’s personnel records, committee members expressed their anger at the lack of diversity in its workforce.
“Moving forward, all agencies must provide us with a summary page so that we can properly analyze and comment on the state representation of staff in government ministries and departments,” stressed Hon. Gagdi, emphasizing the committee’s need for comprehensive data on employment across agencies.
The committee also aims to identify gaps in agencies that have not conducted any recruitment exercises in recent years.
Similarly, the Director-General of the Nigeria Hydrological Service Agency, Mr. Clement Onyeaso Nze, made his second appearance before the committee and submitted the requested documents. He acknowledged the agency’s employment disparities, promising to rectify the situation going forward.
The committee adjourned the hearing for further deliberations on these crucial matters.
