Plateau group alleges federal character violation in INEC recruitment

The Plateau Initiative for Development and Advancement of the Natives (PIDAN), the umbrella body of all the ethnic nationalities in the state, has criticised the system of employing officers on grade level three to six by the Plateau State office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The President of the body, Prof. Aboi Madaki , and Secretary General, Nanle Gujor, insisted there were violations of the Federal Character Principles of the Federal Government.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Section 1.06 vii of INEC Staff Conditions of Service, (2017) states that “All appointments on GL 03-06 (states/FCT offices) shall be indigents of the area in their respective states,” Madaki said.

“Section 1.06 x further states that ‘without prejudice to the above, the principle of Federal Character must be adhered to in all appointments made by the Commission.’’’

The group called on the Federal Character Commission to investigate the recruitment of workers in the state electoral body.

PIDAN added: “We are aware that previous investigations were swept under the carpet and therefore call on the Federal Character Commission to revisit them in addition to doing a thorough work on the issue at stake.

“This we believe will go a long way to putting things straight, to avoid violations of the law in future employments by INEC.”