The Senate on Thursday said it had asked the management of the Federal Character Commission to react in writing, to the secret recruitment being allegedly carried out by federal ministries, departments and agencies.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Federal Character Commission and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Senator Danjuma La’ah, stated this in an exclusive interview with our correspondent in Abuja.
He said the FCC management was also expected to show documentary evidence that there was a circular from the Head of Service which placed an embargo on employment.
La’ah added that the FCC was asked by his committee to provide details of the recruitment exercise carried out so far since the supposed embargo and the criteria used in filling vacant positions.
He said the information from the FCC would enable his panel to take a decision on the way forward and how to ensure provision of jobs to the teeming unemployed graduates in the country.
The Senator said, “We have sent an official letter to the FCC and we are still expecting them to give us details of the information we requested from them.
“We have demanded details of the recruitment exercise they’ve carried out since the so-called embargo the MDAs claimed is on employment.
“We also want to know the criteria the MDAs are adopting to carry out the replacement of retired and dead staff.
“We are also aware that some people have left the service voluntarily. How were they replaced? Did the process follow federal character principles?
“When we get their response, we would be able to write our report and make necessary recommendations to the Senate for the required actions.”
La’ah had on Wednesday raised the alarm that some officials of the federal civil service were engaging in secret recruitment while claiming that there was embargo on employment.
He therefore challenged heads of the various federal ministries and agencies to provide evidence that there was an official circular, placing embargo on employment.
He stated this when he defended the 2022 budget report before the Appropriation panel of the red chamber.
