Senate To Probe NNPC, NAFDAC, Others Over Alleged Breach Of Federal Character Principle
The Nigerian Senate is set to investigate alleged abuse and poor implementation of the federal character principle by key government agencies.
The probe, led by the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs, will commence on Wednesday, 7 May 2025, at the Equal Opportunities Hearing Room 211 in the Senate Building, National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
Senator Allwell Heacho Onyesoh, who chairs the committee, will oversee the hearings.
The investigation follows a motion raised in March by Senator Osita Ngwu, which was adopted unanimously.
The motion condemned widespread non-compliance with the federal character principle, outlined in Sections 14(3) and 14(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The accused agencies include the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and others, such as the National Library of Nigeria (NLN) and the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN).
Formal invitations have been sent to Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), and the hearings are expected to last for several weeks.
The committee aims to submit its findings within three months.
The public has been invited to contribute information through memoranda or by emailing the committee at clerk.scfciga.ng@gmail.com.
The hearings come amidst rising concerns over marginalisation in federal appointments and a broader debate about fairness and equity in national affairs.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
