The Ad-hoc Committee of the House of Representatives, tasked with investigating job irregularities within federal agencies, expressed strong dissatisfaction on Thursday with what it deemed a significant breach of the regulations governing employment practices in the country.
The committee further demanded an explanation from the leadership of the Nigeria Institute for Trypanosomiasis and Onchocerciasis Research (NITR) regarding their failure to honor the approval granted by both the Head of Service of the Federation and the Federal Character Commission.
Specifically, the committee raised objections to the Nigeria Council for Good Science and Technology, citing a disregard for the constitutional requirement of federal character. The council’s employment of foundational staff exclusively from just two geopolitical zones of the country was found to be at odds with the constitutional provision.
During the committee’s session, Veronica Even, the registrar of the council, disclosed that 65 employees were hired for the agency’s establishment in 2020. However, committee member Wole Oke noted that this recruitment did not align with the stipulations of the 1999 Constitution regarding federal character representation. Oke emphasized that this omission of proper representation was a serious concern and needed to be rectified.
Committee Chairman Yusuf Adamu Gagdi further questioned the issuance of a certificate of compliance to the agency when it was evident that they had not adhered to the legal provisions. The committee raised questions about the Nigeria Institute for Trypanosomiasis and Onchocerciasis Research’s correspondence with the Head of Service and the Federal Character Commission, where they sought and received approval for employing 80 and 90 staff, respectively. However, the agency’s records indicated that they ultimately hired 86 employees.
Gagdi stressed that approaching the Head of Service for approval without the intention of adhering to it was unwarranted. Furthermore, he clarified that the committee had not implicated the Registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculations Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyode, or any other agency. Gagdi stated that the committee’s interactions with agencies were thorough and comprehensive, and conclusions would be drawn once the investigation was concluded and the final report submitted to the House.
