Labor strike: Reps postpone investigation into employment fraud

The Ad-hoc Committee, which is currently conducting an investigation into employment racketeering across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), has decided to adjourn its sitting until Thursday, September 7th, 2023.

The aforementioned circumstance arises from the premeditated industrial action initiated by the Organized Labour, which is slated to occur on Tuesday, 5th and Wednesday, 6th September, 2023.

The Ad-hoc Committee was tasked with the responsibility of conducting an investigation into the purported mishandling of personnel recruiting, involvement in employment racketeering, and severe mismanagement of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS).

In reference to the commencement of the hearing, Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi (APC-Plateau), Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee, elucidated that the adjournment was necessary to facilitate the participation of all the Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) who were invited to deliver their submissions.

It is important to note that the Ad-hoc Committee, in the course of its recent hearing on Friday, expressed a firm commitment to fight any efforts aimed at diverting its focus from the fulfillment of its designated responsibilities.

Expressing concern over the prevailing level of impunity exhibited by certain public officials implicated in the purported employment racketeering, Hon. Gagdi provided reassurance to the Nigerian populace regarding the commitment of the 10th Assembly to eradicate this phenomenon in the future.

The Honourable Gagdi, who acknowledged that the Ad-hoc Committee's report will contain significant recommendations, made a commitment to promptly eliminate the practice of granting indiscriminate waivers to Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

The Ad-hoc Committee has extended invitations to several authorities, including the Chairman, Secretary, and Commissioners. Additionally, officials from the Federal Character Commission (FCC), the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), and the Head of Service of the Federation (HoS) have also been invited.

Other individuals that are included in this category are officials of Federal Parastatals, Tertiary Institutions, Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), and Registrars of Federal Polytechnics, among other others.