SENATE PROBES RECRUITMENT IRREGULARITIES IN MDAS

By NBF News

The Senate yesterday resolved to probe the employment irregularities in all federal ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).

The resolution was sequel to a motion sponsored by Senator Abubakar Bagudu entitled 'Employment Irregularities in the Nigerian Immigration Service and other Ministries, Departments and Agencies in Nigeria'.

Consequently, it mandated its committees on Federal Character and Inter-governmental Affairs, and Employment, Labour and Productivity to 'holistically' investigate the matter.

Moving the motion, Bagudu noted with serious concern media stories on irregularities in employment at the Nigerian Immigration Service, Nigeria Customs Service and other ministries, departments and agencies in Nigeria.

He also noted that, according to a statement credited to the controller-general of Nigerian Immigration Service, over 4,000 employment slots were approved by the federal government but were being sold to job applicants and some allocated to various other personalities, whereas due process involving advertisement for interested members of the public to apply has not been observed.

The lawmaker further observed that employment letters were allegedly offered for sale between N400,000 and N500,000 by the syndicate whose operational bases were in Gwagwalada, Karu and other places. He added that the 'recruitment exercise favoured some states of the federation, which is a total negation of the federal character principle'.

Most of the senators who spoke on the motion said the heads of the paramilitary agencies and heads of MDAs should be fired if their MDAs are found culpable.