The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee is to Investigate Federal Ministries, Department and Agencies ( MDAs) Parastatals and Tertiary Institutions on Mismanagement Personnel Recruitment, Employment Racketeering and Gross Mismanagement of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, IPPIS.
In line with the investigation, the adhoc committee mandated the Budget Office of the Federation, the Head of the Civil Servant of the Federation and the Civil Service Commission, to appear before it unfailingly to give evidence in the ongoing problem in their offices.
The Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee, Yusuf Gagdi, gave the instructions at the continued sitting of the committee in Abuja on Wednesday.
He said that “the committee would not tolerate any heads of agencies filing to appear before it in person.”
The Chairman also said that the committee would continue to be fair and just to all.
Gagdi promised that the committee would not allow personal interest to interfere in the assignment of the committee.
“Let me again appeal to all of us to please try as much as we can to be civil. We will be fair, just to all our invited guests. Like I said we are not here to witch hunt anybody. We are here to discharge this constitutional responsibility donated to us by the people of Nigeria through the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas and members of the House of Representatives and in doing this, we are very mindful of our oath of office and oath of allegiance that we will not allow personal interest to influence our official decisions,” Gagdi said.
The Chairman of the adhoc committee gave the assurance that all legislative measures to expunge employment racketeering in the Commission would be put in place by the House without fear or fervour.
While addressing the agencies that appeared before the Ad-hoc committee, Gagdi urged them to be factual and help the committee to achieve it’s aim.
The agencies that did not have their complete documents were asked to go back and return with them on Friday the 28th of July, 2023.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Federal Character Commission, Mrs Muheeba Dankaka who was absent at the Tuesday’s hearing was present.
On interrogation the Chairman said that “the allegations against her by the Federal Commissioners were as a result of her fighting corruption.”
The chairman of the FCC, Mrs Dankakah, however denied the allegations, saying that her appointment brought to an end such kinds of misconduct in the commission.
Some Federal commissioners of the FCC accused the Chairman of alleged job racketeering and mismanagement of the IPPIS, when they appeared before the adhoc committee on the second day of the hearing.
One of the Commissioners representing Osun state Mr Abdulrazak Adeoye, alleged that contrary to her submissions before the committee, she has actually conducted a recruitment without following due process.
Other commissioners of the FCC, who spoke, urged the committee to critically beam its searchlight into the activities of the Commission in order to save the Nation’s employment space.
Gagdi however ruled that the FCC Chairman should submit all relevant documents to the committee on Friday 28th to back up her claim.
He also directed her to appear before the committee on Monday 31st of July, with all the 36 Federal commissioners of the commission for continuation of the investigation.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
