By Isaac Asabor
ABUJA/Nigeria: Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, representing Bayelsa West, has called for an end to what he described as the “flagrant breaches” of the federal character principle enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution.
He warned that continued violations were divisive and unconstitutional, urging the Senate to take decisive action to ensure inclusivity in government appointments.
Speaking on Tuesday while supporting a motion by Senator Sunday Ngwu of Enugu State, Dickson stressed the need for a Senate investigation into how ministries, parastatals, and government agencies were implementing federal character provisions. He noted that Nigeria’s founding fathers established the principle to promote national unity and prevent any single group from dominating government structures.
“The framers of our Constitution created the Federal Character principle to ensure fairness and inclusivity in governance,” Dickson said. “Successive administrations, however, have repeatedly breached this provision, giving opportunities only to people from their states, local governments, language groups, and religions. This fosters division, disenchantment, and a decline in patriotism. Many Nigerians now question whether this country belongs to all or just a few.”
The senator called for a comprehensive investigation, recommending that the Senate grant a committee between three to six months to scrutinize staffing in ministries, agencies, and parastatals on a state and local government basis. He lamented that institutions such as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and the military often exclude qualified individuals from certain regions. “There are federal agencies where people speak one language and share one religion, acting as if the institution belongs to them alone. This must stop,” he stated.
Dickson emphasized that the investigation should go beyond regional, ethnic, or religious biases, extending to disparities at the state and local government levels. He further proposed that the findings be submitted to the President for implementation, ensuring a fairer and more inclusive governance structure.
