Reps panel quizzes FCC over N1m charge for unadvertised vacancies

The House of Representatives Committee on Federal Character has questioned the Federal Character Commission (FCC) over its August 2026 circular reportedly requiring organisations to pay a non-refundable deposit of N1m for unadvertised vacancies exceeding 125 positions.

The committee, chaired by Ahmed Idris Wase (APC, Plateau), raised concerns about the legal basis of the directive to Ministries, Departments and Agencies during an interactive session with the Commission on Tuesday.

This was disclosed in a statement issued yesterday by Wase’s media aide, Faruk Tahir.

Wase said administrative policies and charges introduced by the Commission must be backed by law and comply with the constitutional principles of fairness and equitable representation.

He also urged the FCC to expand its oversight beyond recruitment and employment monitoring to cover the equitable distribution of federal infrastructure, social amenities and development opportunities across the country.

The lawmaker recalled that he had used constituency resources to facilitate the construction of an FCC office in his state to bring the Commission’s services closer to residents, adding that other lawmakers had made similar contributions.

Wase called for stronger collaboration between the committee and the Commission, saying the Federal Character principle must translate into tangible benefits for Nigerians through equitable access to employment, infrastructure and socio-economic opportunities.

He reaffirmed the committee’s commitment to ensuring that the Commission operates transparently and within its statutory mandate in the interest of equity, justice and national unity.

In her presentation, the FCC Chairman, Hulayat Motunrayo Omidiran, apologised for the communication gap between the Commission and the committee and pledged to strengthen institutional engagement.

She, however, maintained that the Commission’s actions were consistent with existing laws, citing its statutory enforcement powers and provisions permitting charges for services rendered.