By Charles Pemu 
The National Assembly chapter of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria has issued a stern warning to the National Assembly Service Commission, cautioning that a persistent disregard for the federal character principle in the appointment of secretaries could precipitate widespread industrial unrest.
In a formal protest letter addressed to the Commission’s Chairman and released to the media in Abuja on Sunday, the union decried what it characterized as a recurring pattern of exclusionary appointment practices that favor specific states at the expense of others within the same geopolitical zones.
The association, led by its chairman, Sabiyyi Sunday, anchored its grievances on Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution and the Federal Character Commission Act of 2024. These statutory provisions mandate that the composition of the government and its agencies must reflect the federal character of Nigeria to ensure equitable representation and foster national loyalty.
The union specifically highlighted instances where vacancies in the secretary cadre were filled by individuals from states already well-represented in the upper echelons of the bureaucracy, effectively denying qualified candidates from underrepresented states their constitutional right to fair participation.
In its advocacy for procedural integrity, the union cited the recent actions of President Bola Tinubu as a benchmark for institutional accountability.
The association lauded the President’s decision to reverse the controversial promotion of his Aide-De-Camp, Nuruddeen Yusuf, following internal military criticism and public debate. According to the union, this reversal demonstrates that adherence to established rules and the willingness to bow to superior legal arguments are essential hallmarks of good governance.
The staff association urged the Commission to follow this executive precedent by auditing current appointment trends and correcting existing imbalances to prevent a total breakdown of administrative harmony.
The union further emphasized that the National Assembly, as the nation’s premier law-making institution, must lead by example in upholding the sanctity of the law. Failure to observe these principles, the letter noted, deepens the perception of institutional bias and undermines the morale of the workforce within the legislative bureaucracy.
As the National Assembly Service Commission considers its next steps, the parliamentary workers have expressed a clear expectation for swift corrective action, maintaining that strict compliance with the Federal Character Commission Act is the only viable path toward maintaining industrial peace and ensuring a transparent civil service.