House C’ttee promises to ensure equitable spread of government employment
By Tom Okpe
Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Federal Character, Rep Idris Wase, has promised to work towards ensuring that the composition of the government agencies will continue to reflect federal character, to promote national unity.
Wase, immediate past Deputy Speaker of the House, who gave the assurance at the inaugural meeting of the Committee in Abuja, said it will be diligent in its oversight to ensure, equitable distribution of employment across the country.
He said the committee is better equipped with adequate legislative backing to dispense its core mandate, emphasising on the Federal Character Commission, (FCC) appearing before the committee next week, Tuesday to brief on its level of compliance in the equitable spread of employment across board.
“We will only do justice and continue to do the right thing. I want to say that we should take this as priority.
“First, colleagues I want to refer you to section 14 (3) of the Constitution, which says;
“Composition of the Government of the Federation, or any of its agencies and conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria; need to promote national unity, and to command national loyalty, thereby, ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few State or, ethnic or other sectional groups in that Government or, in any of its agencies.”
He said, “This is the main thrust of our own committee and our function does not just end at the national level, and this is where now, we have to start our work immediately.
“We want to believe maximally that by next week Tuesday, we should have another meeting with the Federal Character Commission.
“We have offices virtually, in all states of the Federation, and they are supposed to be monitoring this particular section that I quoted, unfortunately, not much is been done and that provision is in section 14 (4) which says; “The composition of the Government of a State, a local government council, or any of the agencies of such Government or council, and conduct of affairs of the Government or council or such agencies shall be carried out in such manner as to recognise the diversity of the people within its area of authority and the need to promote a sense of belonging and loyalty among all people of the Federation.”
He continued; “It means, the function that the federal character is supposed to be doing is also to be concerned about how government businesses are carried out, how employments are carried out.
“This is the mandate that we must ensure this time around that our various state offices carry out such, and we will carry out our oversight on them effectively, and efficiently.
“These are the main provisions of the constitution. And I will also read to you the federal character as a commission what they are expected to do for the nation, which we are supposed to oversight, taken from the constitutional provisions.
“The federal character commission shall comprise the following members a chairman, and one person to represent each state of the Federation and the federal capital territory Abuja.
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“The chairman and members to be appointed by the president subject to confirmation of the Senate.
“Colleagues, you know we have a lot of work to do and I want to plead the we ensure, we do our best.
“So, I want to believe we are better equipped, we are capable for what is enshrined in the constitution as to what we are expected to do,” he added.
