Abbas Orders Probe Into Controversial Recruitment in National Assembly
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has directed a comprehensive investigation into allegations of irregularities in the recent recruitment exercise conducted in the Green Chamber of the National Assembly.
The directive follows widespread claims, particularly on social media, suggesting that the employment process was skewed in favour of certain sections of the country, raising concerns about fairness and adherence to the principles of federal character.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the House Spokesman, Rep. Akin Rotimi Jr., clarified that the recruitment was overseen by the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC), the statutory body responsible for appointments and staffing within the legislature.
However, he noted that the Speaker had invoked the oversight powers of the House to ensure that public confidence is not undermined.
Rotimi dismissed allegations of bias as “false, divisive, and misleading,” stressing that the exercise was conducted on the basis of merit. He explained that the decision to launch an inquiry was not an admission of wrongdoing but a move to reinforce accountability and dispel doubts in the public domain.
“The Speaker has directed the House Committee on Public Service Matters to review the process and submit a report.
This investigation is aimed at ensuring that all recruitment procedures comply with due process and the established principles of fairness and transparency,” the spokesman said.
The House Committee on Public Service Matters, which directly supervises the NASC, is now expected to examine the recruitment exercise in detail. Its mandate includes reviewing the shortlisting criteria, verifying compliance with service rules, investigating alleged regional imbalances, and recommending measures to strengthen transparency in future exercises.
The development comes amid heightened scrutiny of the 10th National Assembly, which has faced a surge of petitions from citizens over governance issues, rights abuses, and employment-related complaints. Analysts say the recruitment probe represents a test of Speaker Abbas’s leadership style, especially his commitment to transparency and institutional reforms.
If the committee’s findings uncover evidence of malpractice, corrective measures such as sanctions, a partial rerun of the exercise, or new policy guidelines could be considered.
On the other hand, if the process is cleared, the probe may still serve as a confidence-building exercise for Nigerians skeptical of public sector recruitment.
As of press time, the National Assembly Service Commission had not released an official statement on the Speaker’s directive. The House leadership, however, maintains that the investigation will be conducted with fairness and that its outcome will be made public.
