The House of Representatives Committee on Federal Character, chaired by Rt. Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase, has expressed concern over reported inconsistencies in public sector pay and recruitment practices, warning that the principle of federal character must be strictly upheld across all government agencies.
The Committee, during an engagement with the leadership of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) in Abuja, pressed for answers on disparities in remuneration and staff deployment that appear to contradict constitutional requirements of fairness and equity.
Established under the NSIWC Act (Act No. 99 of 1993), the Commission is tasked with advising both federal and state governments on wage frameworks, conducting salary reviews, inspecting compensation practices across the public sector, and maintaining a national wages databank.
However, lawmakers raised concerns that employees with the same qualifications and grades are receiving different levels of pay depending on their agencies, a situation that the Committee described as unfair and discriminatory.
The lawmakers also queried whether the NSIWC itself is compliant with the federal character principle in its staffing and deployments, stressing the need for equitable representation of all states and regions within its workforce.
Preliminary findings presented to the Committee reportedly showed significant deviations from equitable practices, sparking calls for stronger oversight and corrective action.
In his closing remarks, Chairman Wase reaffirmed the Committee’s resolve to sustain investigations into the issue, stressing that Nigeria’s diversity demands strict compliance with fairness in recruitment, remuneration, and promotions.
“We are committed to ensuring that the federal character principle is respected across all public institutions. Nigerians must be assured of fairness in appointments and wages, regardless of where they come from,” Wase said.
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