A number of investigation hearings have been held by the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs in an effort to identify suspected violations of the Federal Character concept by various ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).
This move is the result of a proposal that Senator Osita Ngwu, who represents Enugu West, introduced in March 2025 and that the Senate later approved.
“Urgent need to address systemic abuse and ineffective implementation of the Federal Character Principle” was the subject of the motion, which brought attention to ongoing instances of non-compliance in several federal agencies.
Several government agencies accused of violating Sections 14(3) and 14(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) were named by the Senate in its resolution.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and its affiliates, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the National Pension Commission (PENCOM), the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), the National Library of Nigeria (NLN), the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), and the Nigeria Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) are some of the organizations being examined.
It is stated that these bodies have demonstrated a “flagrant disregard” for constitutional requirements meant to ensure balance in governance and equitable representation.
The committee’s chairman, Senator Allwell Heacho Onyesoh of Rivers East, said in a statement on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, that the panel’s mandate is to investigate anomalies in the allocation of infrastructure and hiring practices throughout Nigeria. Within three months, he said, the investigation’s findings would be presented to the entire Senate.
The Equal Opportunities Hearing Room 211 in the Senate Building of the National Assembly Complex in Abuja is where the hearings are scheduled to start on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.
All implicated MDAs and institutions have received formal invitations detailing the schedule and documents required for their appearance.
The Committee also encouraged members of the public to contribute useful information or memoranda either at the hearing venue or by sending them via email to [clerk.scfciga.ng@gmail.com]
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