EXCLUSIVE: Nigerian Senate Goes After MDAs Selling Government Jobs To Applicants

The Nigerian Senate has commenced investigation into alleged sale of jobs in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the federal government.

In an exclusive interview with THE WHISTLER, the senate committee chairman on federal character and inter-government affairs, Senator Danjuma La’ah, revealed that the upper legislative chamber was taking steps to bring MDAs involved in alleged monetisation of government employment to book.

The move came after La’ah, who represents Kaduna South senatorial district of Kaduna State, at a plenary of the senate on September 26, urged the upper legislative chamber to put an end to “incessant monetization” of government jobs.

While revealing that his committee was in possession of some evidence linking some MDS to sale of government jobs, the senator said the committee will still go ahead to conduct proper investigation following which such MDAs will be invited by the committee for questioning.

Asked if the senate committee was in possession of firsthand information on activities of the some of the culpable MDAs, the senator said: 

“We have not found them wanting yet, but I have some of the names of the agencies that have gone ahead to do some recruitment that are inappropriate.

“We are in the process of collecting information from the Federal Character Commission and if they are found wanting, we will invite them.”

He said some of the MDAs are those who “have done recruitment underground without following the due process. So, we are looking forward to confirming if these allegations are true or not.”

La’ah’s committee had last week commenced investigation of agencies such as the FIRS, National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency, National Space Research and Development Agency, the National Open University and the Federal Civil Service Commission, among others, for illegal recruitments.

Speaking to our correspondent, the senator noted that the alleged monetization of government jobs was part of the reason why Nigerian graduates are suffering and roaming the streets because they cannot afford to pay huge sums to get employed by government. MDAs that are found culpable, according to the lawmaker, would be recommended for prosecution. the senator noted that the House Representatives had also set up a similar panel to look into the issue.

Asked how the senate intends to bring some of the culprits to book, La’ah said: “We are doing our job underground to get information. We have informants that duly give us all that is happening in all the organizations”

He said some applicants who could not afford the huge sums being demanded by some officials have been reporting their experiences.

 “Some people can pay in other to get what they want just because they are tired of the whole situation,” he said, noting that others who are struggling to make ends meet may not be able to buy their ways into the civil service.

La’ah said to ensure the problem is addressed, the senate will involve the Department of State Services (DSS) to fish out beneficiaries of proceeds of monetized government jobs.

He had told reporters earlier that, “We are hearing that some agencies will not honour our invitation because they have connection with the Senate leadership.  I am not aware that any agency gave out employment slots to the Senate. The leadership has not told us that they received any slot.

La’ah added, “I have taken it upon myself that I will probe deeply into the agencies’ claims and carry out an extensive investigation.  We are going to expose all those that are tarnishing the image of the Federal Government.

“We are aware that some of the agencies are selling employment slots  for as much as N1.5m when we have children who have not got  jobs since they graduated.

Meanwhile, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, had after the senate’s resumption from its annual recess identified youth unemployment as  “yet another challenge we cannot allow to continue,” noting that the senate was ready to “set the ball rolling on confronting our challenges through diligent lawmaking, effective representation and thorough overnight”.