Reps to look into MDA appointments made by Buhari

On Tuesday, the House of Representatives decided to create an ad hoc committee to request information from the Federal Character Commission regarding appointments made by federal ministries, departments, and agencies between 2015 and 2023, which includes the term of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

The resolution was made following the adoption of a motion titled, “Need to compel the Federal Character Commission to diligently discharge its constitutional and statutory mandate and responsibility,” moved by Paul Nnamchi during Tuesday’s plenary.

Nnamchi, who represents the Isi-Uzo/Enugu East Federal Constituency, pointed out that the FCC Act was passed in 1995 and made a part of the 1999 Constitution with the main purpose of promoting, overseeing, and enforcing adherence to the principles of the equitable distribution of all political, media, and bureaucratic positions across all levels of government.

No other Constitution in Nigeria’s history, according to him, has established such a regulatory body or given it the authority to promote national integration through an impartial, fair, and transparent distribution of the nation’s resources and public office posts.

The federal lawmaker bemoaned the public perception that one segment of the country is uncheckedly dominating bureaucratic, economic, media, and political positions to the detriment of others, 28 years after the enactment aimed at national cohesion and equal opportunities, and 24 years after its constitutional entrenchment.

The federal lawmaker bemoaned the public perception that one segment of the country is uncheckedly dominating bureaucratic, economic, media, and political positions to the detriment of others, 28 years after the enactment aimed at national cohesion and equal opportunities, and 24 years after its constitutional entrenchment.

“The FCC has virtually abdicated its constitutional and statutory responsibilities and degenerated into personality clash of interest amongst its commissioners as was the case about a year ago.

“The constitutional injunction is that the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be a state based on the principles of democracy and social justice, which also propagates national integration and abjure discrimination on the grounds of place of origin, sex, religion, status, ethnic or linguistic association or ties,” he added.

He further emphasized that the National Assembly’s relevant committee, when it was formed, had the authority to compel the FCC to carry out its discharge obligations in line with the law.

The committee had four weeks to deliver its report to the House for additional legislative action.