The Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs has intensified its investigative hearing into the recruitment practices of the National Insurance Commission, expressing strong concerns over the lopsided representation of certain states in the commission’s workforce.
During Tuesday’s session, the committee received the management team of NAICOM, led by its Commissioner for Insurance and Chief Executive Officer Olusegun Omosehin.
The committee chairman, Senator Allwell Onyesoh (Rivers East), who was represented by the Vice Chairman, Senator Diket Plang (Plateau Central), criticised the commission for failing to ensure equitable representation in accordance with the Federal Character principle.
“It is unacceptable that in a nation as diverse as ours, some states like Sokoto and Jigawa remain grossly underrepresented in your commission.
“The principle of Federal Character is not optional—it is a constitutional mandate to ensure fairness, equity, and inclusiveness in all federal institutions,” he said.
In his defence, Omosehin disclosed that NAICOM currently has a total staff strength of 255 and that the last recruitment exercise was conducted in 2020, prior to his appointment in 2024.
The leader of the NAICOM delegation further explained that several staff members had since retired or resigned, contributing to the present imbalance.
He, however, emphasised that all past recruitment exercises were carried out with a certificate of compliance issued by the Federal Character Commission.
After extensive deliberations, the NAICOM leadership admitted that some states were indeed underrepresented.
In response, Senator Plang issued a stern warning to the commission, urging it to prevent such imbalances in future recruitment exercises.
He stressed the need for strict adherence to the federal character principle to promote fairness, equity and equal opportunities for all Nigerians, regardless of ethnicity, region or background.
The Senate committee is expected to continue its oversight to ensure compliance by all federal agencies.
