The House of Representatives ad-hoc committee on Job Racketeering has taken significant steps in its ongoing investigation by summoning key figures to appear before it or face parliamentary consequences. The committee has called upon the director of Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) and the Accountant General of the Federation to appear before the committee. The summon warns that failure to comply will result in parliamentary action. Furthermore, the former IPPIS desk officer at the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Haruna Kolo, and his current employer, Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON), have also been summoned to attend the hearing without fail.
The chairman of the ad-hoc committee, Hon. Yusuf Gagdi, issued these summons during the resumed hearing of the panel. He asserted that the committee holds the power to exercise its constitutional authority on Kolo and other agencies that disregard the summons. Kolo, who previously appeared before the panel, had made allegations about collecting money from applicants for FCC positions.
Gagdi emphasized the committee’s commitment to obtaining clarifications from Kolo and relevant agencies regarding the ongoing probe. He voiced concerns about IPPIS’s absence from the proceedings and its apparent reluctance to engage with the committee. He also highlighted the importance of Kolo’s presence and questioned AMCON’s knowledge and involvement.
The committee chairman underscored that the panel would enforce its constitutional powers if the summons are not adhered to. In addition to the summoning of individuals, the committee chairman called for the scrapping of employment waivers for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), citing concerns about fraudulent practices such as nepotism and bypassing proper recruitment processes.
The committee member, Hon. Amobi Godwin Ogar, echoed these concerns, noting that many government agencies deliberately seek waivers to undermine transparent recruitment practices. He emphasized the importance of open advertisement for job vacancies to ensure fairness and broad participation.
