Reps Faults Universities for Ignoring Federal Character in Hiring, Admissions
The House of Representatives Committee on University Education has accused several federal universities of sidelining federal character requirements in their employment processes and student admissions.
Committee Chairman Abubakar Hassan Fulata issued the warning in Abuja on Thursday after an oversight tour of institutions in the South-West, including the University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, and the Federal University of Technology, Akure.
Fulata said the panel found widespread non-compliance with the distribution thresholds set by the Federal Character Commission Act.
“We have observed that many universities are not complying with the federal character principles in the appointment and employment of workers, even in the admission of students.
“The Act establishing the Federal Character Commission is very clear on this aspect: 2.7 per cent equity share for each state of the federation, 1 per cent for the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and 3 per cent for the state where the institution is located. But there is no semblance of this in these universities today,” he said.
He noted that the exercise was not targeted at any institution but was part of the legislature’s duty to improve transparency and accountability across public universities.
Fulata also criticised the management practices he observed, saying many universities were diverting large sums to travel, entertainment, and similar expenses instead of meeting urgent academic and infrastructural needs.
He warned against practices such as suppressing figures, under-reporting internally generated revenue, and keeping financial records that cannot be reconciled.
Other institutions assessed during the tour included the Federal University, Oye Ekiti; the Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila Orangun, Osun State; the Federal University of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Abeokuta, Ogun State; and the Nigerian French Language Village, Badagry, Lagos State.
Nigeria’s federal character principle, introduced in the late 1970s and entrenched in Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution, aims to ensure fair representation of all states and prevent dominance by any region in public institutions. In the education sector, it was designed to widen access and promote national integration.
However, repeated reviews have shown that some universities give overwhelming preference to applicants from their host states or regions, limiting opportunities for candidates from other parts of the country. Catchment area policies—although recognised by law—have also been applied in ways that distort nationwide spread.
Similar concerns have emerged in staff recruitment, prompting renewed scrutiny from lawmakers and civil society groups.
