The Nigerian Senate has expressed strong disapproval over what it described as prolonged marginalization and lopsidedness in the recruitment practices by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), spanning more than two decades.

During an ongoing investigative hearing on recruitment disparities in federal agencies, the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs, chaired by Senator Allwell Onyesoh, hosted officials from both NAFDAC and the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

Senator Onyesoh, while addressing the hearing, decried the unequal regional representation within NAFDAC’s workforce, accusing unnamed powerful individuals of manipulating the recruitment process. He insisted that such imbalances could not be justified in a diverse country like Nigeria.

Also speaking, the Senate Minority Whip, Senator Osita Ngwu (Enugu West), linked the mass relocation of Nigerian medical doctors and other health professionals abroad to unemployment and persistent recruitment bias in federal agencies.

In her response, Professor Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, Director General of NAFDAC, acknowledged the concerns raised but clarified that the agency had not conducted any recent recruitment. She attributed the existing imbalance to past recruitment exercises and emphasized that addressing the issue would require time.

She, however, assured the committee that future recruitment would strictly adhere to merit and professional qualifications, considering the scientific and technical nature of NAFDAC’s operations.

Following a closed-door session, the committee announced it is still reviewing TCN's employment records to assess its compliance with the federal character principle. The agency, led by Engr. Dr. Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz, will be further scrutinised before a verdict is reached.

The Senate Committee pledged to continue its oversight functions to ensure transparency, fairness, and equity in public sector recruitment, as part of efforts to promote national unity and inclusiveness.