The Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs has given a December deadline to Ministries, Departments and? Agencies (MDAs) to comply with the? federal character principle in their staff? recruitment.
The Chairman of the committee, Sen. Dahiru Kuta (PDP-Niger), gave the ultimatum while speaking with newsmen on Thursday in Abuja.
Kuta said the committee had noted that staff? recruitment into government agencies? had favoured? people from the constituencies of the chief executives of the affected MDAs.
According to him, all government agencies have been directed? to forward their staff? nominal rolls to ascertain their level of compliance with the federal character principle.
“We have discovered that substantial number of staff recruited, tend to favour areas where either the head or minister hails from.
“We will give them up to the end of 2012 to rectify the imbalance in the appointments and failure to do so, we will direct the Federal Character Commission to take necessary action,’’ he said.
He said that the committee was determined to ensure even distribution of Federal Government appointments.
“In doing this, however, we will ensure that merit is not compromised on the altar of federal character.”
Kuta also said that the committee’s report? on the new number plates and driver's licence would be considered when the Senate resumes sitting on June 19.