Heads of MDAs To Face Prosecution Over Failure To Implement Federal Character Principle

Heads of ministries, departments, agencies or parastatals who fail to comply with the Federal Character Principle in employment or distribution of projects would face prosecution.

The Chairman of Federal Character Commission, FCC, Dr Muheeba Dankaka disclosed this in Calabar on Wednesday.

According to Dankaka, the FCC has the Constitutional powers to monitor, evaluate, validate and audit projects executed by government agencies in the Second Mandate given to it by President Muhammadu Buhari, adding that failure to observe federal Character principle is an offence.

“Government cannot be everywhere so the FCC was established to ensure equitable distribution of employment and facilities across all zones of the country without leaving much gaps that can cause dissatisfaction and ill feeling in the hearts of some citizens.”

She said some parts of the country are known for agitations that lead to insecurity, that is why the Commission is holding sensitisation workshops across all the political zones to enlighten heads of agencies to comply with federal character principle.

“The observance of the principle of Federal Character Principle is indispensable in the development and building of any enduring nation therefore the Commission welcomes any collaboration and assistance from other Government agencies, external development partners, non governmental organisations, civil society groups because we believe fervently that such consultations and synergy will greatly enhance the achievement of our mandate,” she said.

She further stated that a framework has been put in place for even distribution of infrastructure by auditing on going and abandoned projects across the country to verify the extent of completion and importance to the development of the nation.

“A comprehensive data base of all projects and programmes in key sectors of the economy will enable us advise federal and state governments on strategic spending priorities and equitable distribution of projects to avoid over concentration in one zone and abandonment of key projects,” she said.

Dankaka also warned heads of agencies to keep adequate data of projects they are executing to make such data available to the commission when demanded.