The House of Representatives Committee on Public Service Matters has said that there’s need for effective funding of the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), to enable it deliver on its constitutional mandate.
The committee made the assertion when the Chairman of commission, Prof. Tunji Olaopa
appeared before it to defend the Commission’s 2026 budget proposal.
Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Sani Umar, admitted that the Commission’s present budgetary allocation falls short of what is needed for optimal performance.
He stated that the planned N2.6 billion allocation, which includes N1.24 billion for personnel costs, would be insufficient for the commission to carry out its essential functions of recruiting, promotion, disciplinary control, and handling of staff appeals.
The committee chairman urged the Budget Office of the Federation to take a second look at the proposed amount and increase the allocation to match the Commission’s operational requirements.
Earlier while making his presentation, the Commission chairman, Olaopa, noted the insufficient budgetary provisions, which he said has hampered the Commission’s capacity to carry out its constitutional duties effectively.
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.
Olaopa also explained how poor funding has rendered the Commission unable to effectively monitor MDAs’ recruitment exercises resulting in what he called indiscriminate hiring, bloating government wage bill.
The Chairman who was accompanied to the defence 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, also informed the lawmakers of the Commission’s backlog of legal duties, including delayed court appearances that resulted in default penalties.
He called for better welfare and working conditions for Commissioners, insisting that they need official vehicles to support field missions.
He said the Commission needs adequate resources to meet 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.