PENCOM

The Senate Committee on Federal Character and Intergovernmental Affairs has summoned the National Pension Commission (PENCOM) over allegations of lopsided recruitment in violation of the Federal Character Principle.

At a public hearing held Thursday in Abuja, Committee Chairman Senator Allwell Onyesoh (Rivers East) expressed concern over PENCOM’s recruitment patterns, which he said show significant disparities in local government representation.

According to data presented to the committee, PENCOM’s recruitment since 2021 shows over-representation from specific local governments in states like Gombe, Delta, Edo, and Ebonyi. For instance, Gombe reportedly has 19 PENCOM staff, with 11 from one LGA; Delta has 16, with six from a single LGA.

Director-General of PENCOM, Mrs Omolola Oworonran, admitted the imbalance and pledged priority for under-represented states like Rivers and Jigawa in future hiring. She assured the committee of the commission’s commitment to equitable representation moving forward.

Senator Onyesoh has criticised the interference from agencies such as the Office of the Head of Service and the Federal Character Commission, alleging that they often demand slots during recruitment exercises. Other senators echoed his concerns, with Senator Amos Yohanna (Adamawa North) describing the PENCOM record as “the worst so far”.

The committee warned that future appointments not compliant with federal character guidelines may be rejected. The investigation continues as part of the Senate’s broader effort to ensure fairness and inclusivity in federal appointments and infrastructure distribution.