The Senate Committee on Federal Character and Intergovernmental Affairs on Wednesday deplored what it called “secret recruitments” by federal ministries, departments and agencies.
The Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige, had, in August 2021, said the government placed an embargo on employment because the economy was not in good shape.
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But the committee, chaired by Senator Danjuma La’ah, countered the claim, saying there was no embargo on recruitments.
He spoke on Wednesday while briefing newsmen after he submitted the report of his committee on 2022 budget to the Senate Appropriations Committee.
La’ah said: “We discovered that young Nigerians who graduated from higher institutions some 15 years ago had yet to gain employment.
“Our committee has been going to ministries, departments and agencies of government that they must start recruitment instead of doing secret replacements.
“We had even asked them to increase their personnel cost in their budgets so that they could employ people.
“Many people are being secretly employed, but those in charge are claiming there’s an embargo on employment.
“The president has not opened his mouth to say that there is an embargo on employment. There’s no embargo anywhere, but some of the officials of government are so myopic that they decide to take advantage of the situation.
“People are retiring voluntarily but we don’t know how they’re being replaced. We must know the particular number of people they want to employ.”
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