The Senate Committee on Federal Character is investigating the Small and Medium Enterprisese Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and the National Universities Commission (NUC) over alleged lopsided recruitment practices.
At a hearing chaired by Senator Allwell Onyesoh, SMEDAN was criticized for regional imbalances in its staff structure with states like Kogi and Katsina significantly overrepresented, while others like Ebonyi and Kebbi had very few staff. SMEDAN’s Director-General, Mr. Charles Odii, acknowledged the imbalance and pledged to correct it in future exercises.
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The NUC, which hasn’t recruited since 2014, was also faulted for an uneven staff distribution. Executive Secretary, Professor Abdulahi Yusufu Ribadu, assured the Senate that future recruitment would reflect fairness and inclusivity.
Both agencies were urged to present plans to address the disparities, as the Senate emphasized transparency and constitutional compliance in public sector employment.
