The House of Representatives Committee on Federal Character has ordered the immediate suspension of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) recruitment exercise over the failure of its Executive Chairman, Dr Zacch Adedeji, to honour repeated invitations from the National Assembly.
The committee accused Adedeji of repeatedly ignoring summons to appear before lawmakers and provide documents relating to the agency’s recruitment exercise.
Lawmakers said the NRS had been directed to submit an updated nominal roll and clarify issues surrounding its ongoing recruitment, but the agency’s chief failed to respond despite receiving several official communications.
The committee also faulted the Federal Character Commission (FCC) for approving recruitment waivers for the NRS despite an earlier directive suspending such approvals.
Consequently, it directed the FCC to halt all recruitment activities involving the NRS until the agency’s leadership appears before lawmakers and addresses the issues raised.
The resolutions were reached during the committee’s meeting held yesterday at the National Assembly in Abuja.
Committee Chairman Ahmed Idris Wase warned that the panel could invoke Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution to compel compliance if the NRS leadership continues to disregard its directives.
He stressed that legislative oversight is a constitutional responsibility that cannot be ignored by any government institution.
“Any institution created by law must respect the authority of the Constitution. Oversight is a responsibility, not a request that officials may choose to accept or reject,” Wase said.
The committee also noted the absence of the FCC Chairman, Hulayat Omidiran, from the meeting, describing it as part of a pattern of non-compliance that undermines accountability.
The development comes amid growing scrutiny of appointments and recruitment procedures at the NRS, including allegations that some executive appointments contravened provisions of the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, particularly those relating to equitable geopolitical representation.
The controversy has also spilled into the courts, with a civil society organisation filing a suit before an Abuja High Court challenging the legality of some appointments made by the agency.
The committee reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing legislative oversight, warning that it would deploy all constitutional measures available to ensure compliance by government institutions.