Unic Press UK: At plenary today the Nigeria Senate Deputy President Ike Ekweremadu made a Point of Order, drawing the attention of the lawmakers of the upper legislative body to the manner in which the Executive is making appointments, submitting that certain a region is being unduly favored contrary to the Federal Character requirement as stipulated in the Constitution.
Reacting to the Point of Order, the Senate President Bukola Saraki instructed the Federal Character Committee of the Senate to respond on Tuesday, the 24 July 2018.
Senate President, @bukolasaraki refers the point of order to the Federal Character Committee to report back next week Tuesday.
— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) July 19, 2018
According to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria:
“Federal character of Nigeria” refers to the distinctive desire of the peoples of Nigeria to promote national unity, foster national loyalty and give every citizen of Nigeria a sense of belonging to the nation as expressed in section 14 (3) and (4) of this constitution”
In Section 171(5), the Constitution reads:
“In exercising his powers of appointment under this section, the President shall have regard to the federal character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity.”
In Section 14(3) the Constitution reads:
“The composition of the Government of the Federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity, and also to command national loyalty, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few State or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups in that Government or in any of its agencies.”
