Political Briefs
THE Senate, on Thursday, May 18, ordered an investigation into the alleged lopsided recruitment recently carried out by the Department of State Services, DSS.
The Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs has been mandated to as a matter of urgency, probe the matter.
The decision of the Senate followed a point of Order 43 by Tijani Kaura, chairman, Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter- Governmental Affairs, (APC, Zamfara North), who informed the Senate that his committee had been inundated with petitions, and informed colleagues that it was prepared to open a thorough investigation into the matter. Kaura said that his committee based on petitions received from concerned Nigerians on recent recruitment carried out by the DSS, resolved to probe the exercise considered to be highly lopsided in favour of a particular state and section of the country. According to him, a total of 479 candidates were recruited into the DSS, out of this number, Katsina took a “lion share” of 51 slots more than those recruited from the South East.
Lagos State got seven slots, Akwa Ibom State five slots, Kano 25 slots while Kaduna 24 slots, Edo six, Bauchi 23.
According to the Senate, probing the alleged lopsided recruitment by the DSS and taking needed steps thereafter, would go a long way in restoring the confidence of Nigerians on the principles of federal character required for such exercise on the basis of equity, justice and fairness.
In his remarks, Bukola Saraki, Senate president, said: “Your committee should please go ahead with the planned investigation on the alleged lopsided recruitment in DSS to right whatever wrongs that must have been committed in the general interest of all Nigerians.” He also enjoined the committee to update the Senate with its findings.
— May 29, 2017 @ 01:00 GMT
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