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The House of Representatives Committee on Federal Character has issued a final warning to four Medical Directors of University Teaching Hospitals and three Chief Executive Officers of key Federal Government agencies, demanding their immediate appearance before the committee or risk sanctions.
Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Idris Wase, issued the ultimatum on Wednesday during an investigative hearing probing the compliance of federal agencies with the federal character principles in recruitment, as mandated by the 1999 Constitution (As Amended).
According to Wase, the Medical Directors of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Ituku/Ozalla, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Ile Ife, and Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Zaria, have consistently ignored previous summons by the House panel.
Also named were the CEOs of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Displaced Persons, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), who reportedly failed to honour several invitations regarding alleged infractions in their recruitment processes.
Wase decried what he described as a blatant disregard for constitutional oversight, warning that any further absence would trigger the use of constitutional powers by the House to compel their appearance and impose sanctions.
“This is the last call. We will not hesitate to apply the full weight of the law against any head of agency or institution who undermines the authority of the National Assembly,” Wase stated emphatically.
The House Committee is investigating alleged violations of federal character principles in recruitment practices across various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), aiming to ensure equitable representation of all regions in public service employment.
