By Joy Odor
The Senate is cracking down on Galaxy Backbone Limited for consistently ignoring the Federal Character Principle, a guideline aimed at ensuring fair representation and inclusion in government appointments and projects.
The principle is designed to promote a sense of belonging and balance in the country, preventing dominance by any particular group.
Galaxy Backbone’s repeated disregard for this principle has prompted the Senate to take drastic measures, threatening to issue a warrant of arrest if they do not comply.
This move emphasizes the importance of adhering to the Federal Character Principle, which is essential for maintaining equality and fairness in public service representation.
The Senate’s stance is clear: “they will not tolerate any entity, including Galaxy Backbone, that refuses to uphold the principles of fairness and inclusion.
By taking a firm stand, the Senate hoped to send a strong message and encourage other organizations to follow suit, ultimately promoting a more balanced and representative society.
The Senate gave the warning during a public hearing tagged “Equal Opportunities for All” on Thursday with the management of the Federal Character Commission at the National Assembly Complex.
The Senate condemned Galaxy Backbone Limited’s flagrant disregard for the principle, describing such actions as a breach of the Constitution.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Senator Allwell Onyesoh (Rivers East/PDP) informed that the aimed to review the recruitment activities at Galaxy Backbone Limited an agency under the Federal Ministry of Communications & Digital Economy and to assess its compliance with the Federal Character Principle under the supervision of the Federal Character Commission.
Lawmakers expressed great concern over allegations that the agency had failed to adhere to the constitutional requirement for equitable representation in its employment processes.
They also inquired whether the Federal Character Commission had issued the waivers and certificates of compliance that allegedly enabled the agency’s non-compliance.
Senator Onyesoh decried Galaxy Backbone Limited’s repeated disregard for the principle, noting that the organization had ignored four consecutive invitations to appear before the Committee.
The chairman described this action as a show of disrespect for the authority of the National Assembly and warned that such behavior would no longer be tolerated.
Reacting to reports that a certificate of compliance had been issued to Galaxy Backbone Limited despite its lopsided employment practices, the Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission, Dr. Muheeba Farida Dankaka, refuted the claims.
She appealed to the Committee for more time to enable the Commission to review its records and provide a more detailed report.
Dr. Dankaka stated that she could not confirm whether the Commission had issued a certificate of compliance to Galaxy Backbone Limited on the matter.
Following deliberations, the lawmakers unanimously resolved to adjourn the hearing to allow the management of the Federal Character Commission to prepare for further scrutiny.
While directing its Clerk to re-invite all parties involved, the Committee also issued a stern warning to Galaxy Backbone Limited, mandating the agency to appear at the next hearing.
The Senate declared that failure to comply would result in the issuance of a warrant of arrest against the management of Galaxy Backbone Limited for disregarding the authority of the National Assembly.
The Senate’s actions reflect its resolve to uphold constitutional principles and ensure fairness in the employment practices of all government institutions.
The Committee’s decision underscores its firm stance against perceived impunity and highlights the importance of transparency, equity, and accountability in recruitment into the public sector.
