By Ignatius Okorocha
Senate on Tuesday asked President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately reconstitute the board of Federal Character Commission ( FCC) to perform its constitutional roll of ensuring equity in employment distribution.
Minority leader of the Senate, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe( Abia South) had noted the tenure of the current FCC has elapsed and demanded a reconstitution of the board to instill equity and fairness in employment distribution at the federal level.
He cautioned that failure to immediately reconstitute the commission would amount to breach of 1999 constitution as amended.
Coming under Order 42 and 52 of Senate Rules, Abaribe in a motion entitled,”Urgent need to reconstitute the Federal Character Commission,” called for urgent reconstitution of the board.
In his submission, the minority leader said,”Notes that pursuant to Act No. 34 3 1996 and Section 153 of the 1999 constitution (as amended) provided For the establishment of the Federal Character Commission.
“Also Notes that under Act No.34 0(1996, LFN subsection 1, 2 & 3
stipulates the establishment, membership and tenure of office of the
Chairman and members of the Commission.”
He noted that Section 3(1) of the Act states that the Chairman and members of the Commission shall hold office for a period of five years in the first instance and for a further term of five years on such terms and conditions as may be specified in their letters ofappointment.
Abaribe further observed that the Federal Character Commission body has lapsed since 2018 as against its Act and as such, requires a reconstitution.
He equally noted that the Commission has since 2018, been run by an acting chairman who has now become a sole administrator, noting “no provisions of the Act or the Constitution Stipulates the need for the office of a Sole administrator or an Acting Chairman.
“Note, that the Federal Character Commission (FCC) has been a tool For unity, equitable Formula distribution and good governance of the Nation.
“Accordingly noted that Failure to reconstitute the commission amounts to a constitutional breach of the act establishing the Federal Character Commission.”
In seconding the motion, deputy leader of the Senate, Senator Sabi Aliyu Abdullahi( Niger North),saying “indeed the role of the Federal Character commission is very important for this kind of action to be attended to. This kind of motion does not require long debate.
He further noted that since unemployment has been an issue, it is the responsibility of FCC to ensure that justice is strictly in the recruitment of applicants to available jobs.
In his remark,by President of he Senate, Ahmad Lawan said that the Federal Character Commission is a commission charged with ensuring that equity is observed in terms of employment provision.
Accordingly he said “It is important that the commission is reconstituted.”
