Senate cautions President Buhari On Federal Character Principle

The Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that in addition to merit, the federal character principle is not undermined in the consideration of citizens for appointment into public offices.

The committee’s chairman, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti) stated this on Monday during a confirmation hearing of Hon. Justice Salisu Garba Abdullahi, for appointment as the Chief Judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

He noted that it was not only morally and politically correct to ensure compliance with the federal character principle, but also a fundamental obligation imposed on the government and all its functionaries as contained in the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The lawmaker therefore urged all individuals and bodies saddled with the responsibility of making appointment recommendations to the president to ensure compliance with both the eligibility criteria and federal character principle.

This, he said, was to avoid unnecessarily heating up the polity and eroding the unity and strength of the country.

He said: “The need for merit and compliance in the consideration of citizens for appointment, including the ones that will come before the Senate for confirmation, must be re-emphasised for the record.

“In addition to ensuring that potential appointees meet the eligibility criteria stipulated for the relevant public offices into which they are being appointed, adequate care must also be taken to ensure that the federal character principle established by virtue of the clear provision of Section 14, Sub-section (3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as altered) is not undermined.

Responding, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Babajide Omoworare, said the issues raised about the federal character principle are well noted and will be communicated to the appropriate quarters.

The nominee, Hon. Justice Salisu Garba Abdullahi, was called to the bar in 1984 and had spent 33 years in FCT Judiciary.

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