The House of Representatives yesterday began an investigation into the alleged ‘secret’ recruitment of 909 employees by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The controversial recruitment was reportedly carried out by the apex bank on the directive of the Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, who was said to have dispensed political favours through job offers to select sons and daughters of Nigerian politicians including the President, former Vice president Atiku Abubakar, the Inspector General of Police, the Minister of Interior and many others.
A session presided over by the Speaker, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, in Abuja, the House asked its Committees on Federal Character, Banking/Currency to complete the investigation within three weeks.
An All Progressives Congress lawmaker from Kano State, Mr. Aliyu Madaki, had drawn the attention of the House to the recruitment under ‘matters of urgent public importance’.
Madaki noted that there were no prior notifications on the recruitment through advertisements to give all Nigerians the opportunity to apply.
He stated, “The recruitment by the CBN is in breach of the Federal Character Principle as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
“The recruitment breached section 14(1); 14(3); and Section 17(1) of the constitution.
“There was no fairness, no justice in this exercise conducted by the CBN.”
Lawmakers did not debate the motion before passing it in a unanimous voice vote. However, The Speaker of the house had earlier overruled any debate on the issue on the grounds that it could pre-judge the outcome of the investigation.