The Senate on Wednesday pledged to expose Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) that violate the federal character principle in their recruitment practices.
Senator Allwell Onyesoh (PDP, Rivers) made the declaration at an investigative hearing on breaches of the federal character system in recruitment across various MDAs.
He urged agencies not to withhold any documents needed for the investigation.
“As enshrined in Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Federal Character Principle is vital to our national unity,” he said. “It mandates that governance must reflect the diversity of our federation to prevent domination by any single group or region.”
The senator lamented that systemic abuse and poor enforcement had rendered the principle “more honoured in the breach than in observance.”
He noted that persistent non-compliance by many MDAs in both recruitment and infrastructure allocation had deepened feelings of marginalisation and discontent.
“Although the Federal Character Commission has legal powers, enforcement has proven ineffective. This calls for urgent reforms—possibly including the establishment of a Federal Character Compliance Tribunal—to ensure that violations are adequately addressed,” he said.
Onyesoh stressed that the committee’s approach would be corrective rather than punitive.
“Our aim is to foster accountability, reinforce equity, and restore trust in our national institutions. We call on MDAs, civil society, and the public to support this process. Full cooperation is expected, and we will not hesitate to invoke our constitutional powers under Sections 88 and 89 where necessary.”
He added that President Bola Tinubu supported the investigation, warning that those hoping to hide behind the presidency would be disappointed. “The time for accountability has come,” he said.
Committee Vice Chairman, Senator Simon Lalong (APC, Plateau), said the committee was committed to ending violations in the national interest.
The first set of agencies to face the investigation from Monday include the Federal Character Commission, Federal Civil Service Commission, Nigerian Ports Authority, National Pension Commission, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), among others.
The federal character principle is anchored in Sections 14(3) and 14(4) of the 1999 Constitution. It requires that the composition of government and its agencies, at both federal and state levels, reflect the country’s diversity to prevent domination by any one ethnic group or state.
Though designed to promote national unity and a sense of belonging, the principle has been widely flouted by public officials over the years.
On Tuesday, the Senate, following a motion by Minority Whip Senator Osita Ngwu (PDP, Enugu), resolved to mandate its Committee on Federal Character to probe violations across MDAs.
