Senate Launches Probe Into NNPC, Others Over Alleged Federal Character Violations
In a fresh effort to promote equity in public hiring and infrastructure distribution, the Nigerian Senate is scheduled to begin investigating hearings on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, into the alleged misuse and poor application of the federal character concept by important government institutions.
The Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs, led by Senator Allwell Heacho Onyesoh (Rivers East), is conducting the hearings, which will be held in the Equal Opportunities Hearing Room 211 in the Senate Building at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
This action comes after the Senate unanimously approved a motion introduced by Senator Osita Ngwu (Enugu West) in March. The resolution denounced what it called “widespread non-compliance with Sections 14(3) and 14(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended),” with the heading Urgent Need to Address Systemic Abuse and Ineffective Implementation of the Federal Character Principle.
The federal character standards, which are meant to guarantee fair representation of all regions and groups in national appointments and infrastructure projects, have been accused of being flagrantly disregarded by a number of federal agencies.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and its subsidiaries, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the National Pension Commission (PENCOM), and the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) are a few of the organizations listed.
The Nigeria Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA), the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF), the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), the National Library of Nigeria (NLN), and others are also included.
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Senator Onyesoh said in a statement released on Tuesday, May 6, that all designated Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) have received formal invitations and requests for documents. The Committee is expected to deliver its conclusions to the Senate within three months of the hearings, which are anticipated to span several weeks.
In keeping with its goal of conducting an open and inclusive investigation, the Committee has also encouraged the public to submit memoranda or pertinent information in person at the location or by email to clerk.scfciga.ng@gmail.com.
The government’s adherence to the constitutional values of justice and national unity is anticipated to be put to the test during the hearings, which coincide with mounting concerns about imbalance and marginalization in federal appointments.
