By Peter Oriri
The Senate has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring strict compliance with the Federal Character Principle in the recruitment of workers across all government institutions. During a public hearing tagged “Equal Opportunities for All” on Thursday, the Senate condemned Galaxy Backbone Limited’s flagrant disregard for the principle, describing such actions as a breach of the Constitution.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Senator Allwell Onyesoh (Rivers East/PDP), made this assertion during the Committee’s equal opportunities hearing with the management of the Federal Character Commission at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.
The hearing aimed to review the recruitment activities at Galaxy Backbone Limited an agency under the Federal Ministry of Communications & Digital Economy and to assess its compliance with the Federal Character Principle under the supervision of the Federal Character Commission. Lawmakers expressed great concern over allegations that the agency had failed to adhere to the constitutional requirement for equitable representation in its employment processes. They also inquired whether the Federal Character Commission had issued the waivers and certificates of compliance that allegedly enabled the agency’s non-compliance.
Senator Onyesoh decried Galaxy Backbone Limited’s repeated disregard for the principle, noting that the organization had ignored four consecutive invitations to appear before the Committee. The chairman described this action as a show of disrespect for the authority of the National Assembly and warned that such behavior would no longer be tolerated.
Reacting to reports that a certificate of compliance had been issued to Galaxy Backbone Limited despite its lopsided employment practices, the Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission, Dr. Muheeba Farida Dankaka, refuted the claims. She appealed to the Committee for more time to enable the Commission to review its records and provide a more detailed report. Dr. Dankaka stated that she could not confirm whether the Commission had issued a certificate of compliance to Galaxy Backbone Limited on the matter.
Following deliberations, the lawmakers unanimously resolved to adjourn the hearing to allow the management of the Federal Character Commission to prepare for further scrutiny. While directing its Clerk to re-invite all parties involved, the Committee also issued a stern warning to Galaxy Backbone Limited, mandating the agency to appear at the next hearing. The Senate declared that failure to comply would result in the issuance of a warrant of arrest against the management of Galaxy Backbone Limited for disregarding the authority of the National Assembly.
The Senate’s actions reflect its resolve to uphold constitutional principles and ensure fairness in the employment practices of all government institutions. The Committee’s decision underscores its firm stance against perceived impunity and highlights the importance of transparency, equity, and accountability in recruitment into the public sector.
