The Senate Committee on Federal Character and Intergovernmental Affairs has ramped up its investigation into purported recruitment irregularities at the National Pension Commission (PENCOM).
During a public hearing on Thursday in Abuja, the committee led by Senator Allwell Onyesoh (Rivers East) questioned PENCOM’s adherence to the Federal Character Principle, after stakeholders expressed concerns about marginalisation in the commission’s hiring practices.
During her appearance before the committee, PENCOM’s Director-General, Mrs. Omolola Oworonran, along with the Executive Secretary and other high-ranking commission officials, acknowledged that disparities in regional staff representation exist.
She recognized that certain local governments and states have a disproportionate representation, while others are insufficiently represented.
Documents reviewed by the committee indicate that PENCOM’s recruitment since its last exercise in 2021 has revealed significant discrepancies.
As an example, it has been reported that Delta State employs 16 staff members, six of whom are from one local government area. Four of the six from Ebonyi are from one LGA; Edo possesses 12, including five from a single LGA; while Gombe has 19, including 11 from a single LGA.
To guarantee grassroots inclusivity, Senator Onyesoh emphasized that future recruitment should prioritize equitable distribution across local governments instead of states or geopolitical zones.
While he praised PENCOM for showing up before the committee, he also took issue with the involvement of some federal institutions in compromising recruitment transparency.
Read Also: Lagos APC Stakeholders Call on Tinubu to Address Party Primary Crises with Panel
Whenever a recruitment exercise occurs, it is frequently undermined by other government agencies such as IPPIS, the Office of the Head of Service, the Office of the Accountant General, and even the Federal Character Commission, all of whom insist on their own share. Onyesoh declared, “This practice must come to an end.
Other committee members expressed similar concerns. Senator Osita Ngwu (Enugu West) stated that, according to the committee’s examination of submitted documents, no ministry, department, or agency had completely adhered to the Federal Character guidelines.
He cautioned that future appointments violating the guidelines would be examined closely and could possibly be invalidated.
Senator Amos Yohanna (Adamawa North) voiced significant discontent regarding PENCOM’s recruitment records, labeling them “the worst” encountered to date. He maintained that the commission needed to act right away to rectify the imbalance.
It was noted by Mrs. Oworonran that states with insufficient representation, such as Rivers and Jigawa, have been pinpointed, and that in future recruitment rounds the commission will prioritize individuals from those regions who meet the qualifications. She committed to keeping lines of communication open with the Senate committee regarding all future recruitment efforts.
The investigation conducted by the committee is a component of a larger initiative by the Senate aimed at enforcing transparency and equity in recruitment practices across federal agencies, as well as ensuring that infrastructure distribution aligns with constitutional mandates promoting fairness and inclusivity among regions.
The Senate investigation is ongoing, with additional sessions anticipated in the next few weeks.
