Senate seeks NASC recruitment documents

Senate Committee on Federal Character and Government Affairs has tasked the National Assembly’s commission to make sure there is equity and fairness in recruitment processes across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Senator Allwell Onyesoh, the Senate Committee’s chairman on Federal Character and Government Affairs, Senator made the call in Abuja, when the National Assembly’s commission appears before the senate.

Senator Allwell, representing Rivers East Senatorial District of Rivers State stressed that the essence of federal character is to ensure equity and that people get what they rightly desire.

He emphasized that with fairness Nigerians will have a sense of belonging; “this country belongs to all of us, It’s for a sense of fairness, not deceit.That’s the essence of federal character.”

Speaking further on the need for balancing in line with National Assembly Service Commission principles, Senator Onyesoh expressed that, once the commission deviates from fairness, it defeats the moral essence and purpose of the results and aims. “So that is why we ask for further presentation of documents up to the public levels.

“So the state has less than 15% affirmative consent . And each state must not have less than 15%.

Onyesoh sought for balanced representation in line with federal character principles and as enshrined in the constitution.

“We are committed to ensuring that all zones receive fair employment opportunities, as mandated by our constitution.

“This imbalance must be addressed to maintain national unity and trust in our federal system” Onyesoh said.

Earlier, the chairman of NASC, Engineer Ahmed Amshi said the commission’s last recruitment was in 2018, saying it was waiting for the Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA) to declare vacancies in the National Assembly.

According to Amshi, the total staff strength stood at 3721. He said the distribution by geopolitical zones are: 1024 (North Central), 564 (North west), 474 (North east), 592 (South East), 631 (South South) and 436 (South west).

He added that the catchment advantage gave a higher percentage to the north Central.

But apparently dissatisfied with the presentation, the committee said there are 774 local government areas in Nigeria. “We want you to take us to the LGAs, we will like to have the list”.