Senate Queries NNPC, Other Bodies Over Federal Character Infractions

On Wednesday, May 7, 2025, the Nigerian Senate will begin investigation hearings into the alleged misuse and poor application of the federal character concept by important government institutions. This will be a fresh attempt to promote equity in hiring the public and allocating infrastructure.

Under the direction of Senator Allwell Heacho Onyesoh (Rivers East), the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs is conducting the hearings, which will be held in the Equal Opportunities Hearing Room 211 in the Senate Building at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.

The Senate unanimously approved a motion introduced by Senator Osita Ngwu (Enugu West) in March, which prompted this action. The motion, which was headed Urgent Need to Address Systemic Abuse and Ineffective Implementation of the Federal Character Principle, denounced what it said was widespread disregard for the 1999 Constitution’s (as modified) Sections 14(3) and 14(4).

A “flagrant disregard” for the federal character standards, which are meant to guarantee fair representation of all regions and groups in national appointments and infrastructure projects, has been alleged against a number of federal agencies.

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Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) 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), and the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) are a few of the organizations listed.

Other organizations include the Nigeria Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA), the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF), the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), the National Library of Nigeria (NLN), and others.

On Tuesday, May 6, Senator Onyesoh confirmed in a statement that all designated Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) had received formal invitations and requests for documentation. The Committee plans to present its findings to the Senate in three months, and the hearings are anticipated to take several weeks.

In order to demonstrate its commitment to conducting an open and inclusive investigation, the Committee has also invited members of the public to submit memoranda or pertinent information there or by email to clerk.scfciga.ng@gmail.com.

At a time when concerns about imbalance and marginalization in federal appointments are growing, the hearings are anticipated to put the government’s adherence to the constitutional values of justice and national unity to the test.