The House of Representatives Committee on Public Service Matters has formally rejected the 2026 budget allocation for the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC). The decision was reached following a tense budget defense session led by the Committee Chairman, Hon. Sani Umar Bala, and the Chairman of the FCSC, Prof. Tunji Olaopa.
The Committee expressed grave concern over the ₦2.6 billion total allocation of which ₦1.24 billion is earmarked for personnel costs, describing the figures as “grossly inadequate” for a commission tasked with the recruitment, promotion, and disciplinary control of the nation’s workforce.
The Committee highlighted several critical areas where the current funding “envelope” provided by the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning fails to meet the Commission’s constitutional mandates:
Due to a lack of funds, the FCSC has been unable to execute the 2024 recruitment waiver, leaving vital vacancies in the civil service unfilled.
The Commission lacks the resources to upgrade its data management systems and internal control mechanisms. This technological gap has directly hindered efforts to combat fake appointments and the proliferation of “unscrupulous recruitment” in various agencies.
Inadequate funding has left top officials without sufficient official vehicles, hampered the Commission’s ability to meet legal obligations in court (leading to default fees), and delayed necessary human resource audits.
The Committee noted with concern that the FCSC may be unable to host the 2026 General Assembly and Biennial Conference of the Association of African Public Service Commissions (AAPSCOMS), an event critical to Nigeria’s international image.
According to the Chairman, House Committee on Public Service Matters Hon. Sani Umar Bala “There is a wide gap between the responsibilities of the Commission and the funding provided. We cannot expect a complete reform of the civil service or the elimination of recruitment scams if we do not provide the FCSC with the technological tools and personnel resources it requires.”
The Chairman, Federal Civil Service Commission Prof. Tunji Olaopa also stated that “The 2026 budget was intended to cover personnel, overhead, and capital expenditures, including the digitization of recruitment to enhance transparency. Without a significant upward review of this allocation, our capacity to deliver on these core constitutional duties will be severely compromised.”
The House Committee has officially requested the Budget Office of the Federation to revisit the allocation. The Committee maintains that the FCSC requires a budget that reflects the actual cost of managing a modern, transparent, and disciplined civil service.
Further deliberations between the FCSC and the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning are expected in the coming weeks to finalize an amended proposal before the 2026 Appropriation Bill is passed.
