110 297. Members of Parliament (MPs) and councillors are accused of having bought or bribed their way into office, often funded by wealthy businesspeople (known as ‘godfathers’) who expect reciprocal rewards and benefits from these ‘elected’ representatives. These MPs and councillors therefore lack accountability to the electorate, in addition to illegally channelling public funds to their financiers (the ‘godfathers’). Thus, misuse and embezzlement of public funds, and limited interaction between MPs and their electorates in addressing security and development projects, are also cited by stakeholders, some of whom mentioned that the only time they see their legislative representative is during the election season. iii. Recommendations 298. The APR Panel recommends that: • The federal civil service should utilise competitiveness, federal character and merit during recruitment exercises, and that personnel requirements should be developed to match position classification in the public service. [FCSC and the State Civil Service Commission (SCSC)] • Professional examination bodies and professional organisations be involved in the recruitment exercises in order to bring about standardisation, uniformity and transparency. (FCSC and the SCSC) • The number of federal character commissioners and federal civil service commissioners be increased with the establishment of zonal and state offices. (FCSC and the FCC) • The Bill on the Federal Character Tribunal initiated by the House of Representatives be passed both by the National Assembly and the state houses of assembly as soon as possible. (Senate, House of Representatives and state legislatures) • A comprehensive strategy for recurrent skills development, ethical reorientation and retention in the public sector (including regulatory frameworks, remuneration reforms, education and training, and egovernment) be established. (FCSC and the SCSC) • The Freedom of Information Bill be urgently passed and duly enforced. (National Assembly) • Coordination mechanisms between anticorruption units in all government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) and within anticorruption agencies be reinforced. (National Assembly, ICPC, EFCC, FCSC and the SCSC) • The capacity of the offices of the auditor general and attorney general be strengthened. Corruption and misconduct on the part of such public office holders must be appropriately punished. (Federal government and the National Assembly)