Job racketeering scandal hits Federal Character Commission as agency’s chairman makes startling confession

macfranc007 January 12, 2018 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Nigerian newspapers 24/7 Eromosele Ebhomele

- Shettima Bukar Abba, the acting executive chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), confirms alleged job racketeering at the agency

- Abba indicts some of the commissioners for the alleged act adding that it has dented the agency's image

- A committee of the Senate is set to summon Abba and the commissioners over the scandal

A major revelation concerning how some of the 37 commissioners at the Federal Character Commission (FCC) flout its rule and engage in job racketeering has been made by Shettima Bukar Abba, the agency’s acting executive chairman.

Abba, according to a report by Daily Independent, complained that this illegal practice has dented the image of the commission saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that every part of Nigeria is represented in the federal civil service.

Abba said angry state governors are now refusing to release lands for construction of state offices of the commission as a result of these sharp practices.

The FCC boss made the confession when he faced members of the Senate committee on federal character and intergovernmental affairs during a budget defence session.

“After being given available slots of employment gotten from any of the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) for their respective states, the commission expects each one of them to take such slots home and distribute evenly among the various people there in collaboration with other stakeholders.

“But the unfortunate report often received by us is that such slots were not made known to stakeholders in the state let alone equally distributed, leading credence to existence of act of sabotage within,” he said.

He mentioned the governors already contacted for assistance on land to build offices, but who are not showing any sign of commitment to include Kaduna, Enugu, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Bauch.

The chairman of the committee, Senator Tijani Yahaya Kaura, from Zamfara North, and its members had reportedly claimed a sabotage by some of the commissioners

The committee members alleged that some of the commissioners were even in the habit of selling high profile job slots given to them for eligible applicants in their various states to people outside.

PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigeria’s #1 new app

The committee chairman ruled that the Abba would re-appear with the commissioners.

NAIJ.com earlier reported how Dr Shetimma Abba said recently that the commission would sanction Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) flouting its guideline in recruitment of junior staff.

Abba told a meeting of federal and state MDAs in Jos that the commission was aware that its guideline had not been adhered to in recruitment of junior staff in their catchment areas.

What is working well and what needs improvement in Nigeria? - on NAIJ.com TV