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By Barth Ikiebe in Abuja.
The House of Representative Committee on Public Service Matters has called for increased funding for the Federal Civil Service Commission, FCSC, to enhance its mandate delivery.
The appeal came when the Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Tunji Olaopa appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Public Service Matters to defend the Commission’s 2026 budget proposal.
Olaopa was accompanied by the Commissioner representing Akwa Ibom and Cross River States, Ededet Eyoma; the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Emeka Vitalis Obi; Directors; Special Advisers; and other senior staff of the Commission.
The Commission’s Acting Head PPR, Florence Dagogo Azike said in a statement in Abuja that, Prof. Olaopa’s presentation focused on the ongoing difficulty of insufficient budgetary provisions, which have hampered the Commission’s capacity to carry out its constitutional duty on time.
The Chairman emphasized the importance of increased funding to support key operational areas such as upgrading and securing the Commission’s Local Area Network (LAN), conducting computer-based test (CBT) for promotional examinations on time and efficiently, and digitizing recruitment processes to improve transparency and efficiency.
The Chairman stated that the absence of dedicated funds has resulted in unmet expectations for the full execution of the 2024 recruitment waiver.
He said that the ongoing human resource audit across the civil service may discover major vacancies, emphasizing the importance of proper budgetary assistance for recruitment.
Prof. Olaopa also expressed worry about the Commission’s incapacity, due to funding constraints, to effectively monitor MDAs designated to recruit, which has resulted in incidents of indiscriminate hiring, hence increased government personnel costs.
He also emphasized the Commission’s backlog of legal duties, including delayed court appearances that resulted in default penalties while also advocating for better welfare and working conditions for Commissioners, such as the allocation of official vehicles to support field missions.
The Chairman emphasized the importance of resources for meeting international obligations, particularly as Nigeria prepares to host the 2026 General Assembly and Biennial Conference of the Association of African Public Service Commissions (AAPSCOMS), a significant event that will project Nigeria’s leadership in the global public service community.
In response, Hon. Sani Umar, Chairman of the Committee, admitted that the Commission’s present budgetary allocation falls short of what is needed for optimal performance.
Bala stated that the planned N2.6 billion allocation, which includes N1.24 billion for human costs, would be insufficient for the commission to carry out its essential functions of recruiting, promotion, disciplinary control, and handling of staff appeals.
Following a voice vote among Committee members, he asked the Budget Office of the Federation to examine and amend the FCSC’s allocation to match its operational requirements.
With this commitment from the House Committee on Public Service Matters, the Commission’s leadership expressed confidence that funding constraints would be addressed soon and the FCSC will effectively carry out its core mandate of recruitment, promotion, and discipline within the federal civil service.
