The National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) has announced Ojo Amos Olatunde as the acting clerk of the National Assembly.
His appointment signals an end to the controversies surrounding the tenure of the Mohammed Sani-Omolori outgoing clerk.
On Thursday, the commission had queried Sani-Omolori for refusing retirement after 35 years of service.
The Commission in a statement issued on Friday and signed by its chairman, Ahmed Amshi, said the decision was made at an emergency meeting held on Friday, July 17.
The commission also announced other positions including the deputy clerk to the National Assembly, clerk of the Senate, clerk of the House of Representatives, deputy clerk of the Senate, deputy clerk of the House of Representatives, secretaries to directorates, among others.
The statement reads in part; “The National Assembly Service Commission at an emergency meeting held today, Friday, July 17, 2020, has approved the appointments of some senior management staff for the service.”
It noted that the development is pursuant to its mandate as provided in the National Assembly Service Act 2014 (as amended), Section 6 (b), which it quoted as follows; “Appoint persons to hold or act in the offices of; clerk to the National Assembly.
The statement also proclaimed Mohammed Bala is the new acting deputy clerk to the National Assembly, El-Laden Dauda is the acting clerk to the Senate while Patrick Giwa maintains his position as the clerk, House of Representatives “pending his retirement in November, 2020.” Yusuf Dambata is the new acting secretary to the National Assembly Service.
Backstory
Controversy trailed the retirement of Mr Sani-Omolori as the commission and the assembly management battle over his replacement and that of about 160 other senior civil servants working at the national assembly.
On Wednesday, the commission ordered appointees who have been in service for 60 or 35 years to retire.
Mr Sani-Omolori has spent 35 years in service but seeks to continue in office, relying on a controversial National Assembly Revised Condition of Service which reportedly took effect in 2019.
Based on the amended conditions, the clerk and no fewer than 160 officers, who were to have retired from office, were expected to remain in office for about five more years, after the retirement age was raised from 60 to 65 years and years of service from 35 to 40.
However, the commission ignored the amendment by the two chambers of the National Assembly in 2018 and asked all those affected to proceed on compulsory retirement.
“Pursuant to its mandate as provided in the National Assembly Service Act 2014 (as amended), the National Assembly Service Commission at its 497th meeting held on Wednesday 15th July 2020 has approved the retirement age of the staff of the National Assembly Service as 35 years of service or 60 years of age whichever comes first.
“To this effect, the commission has approved the immediate retirement of staff of the National Assembly Service who have already attained the retirement age of 35 years of service or 60 years of age.
“Retirement letters would be issued to the affected staff accordingly.”
Sani-Omolori Fires
Reacting to the development, Mr. Sani-Omolori, in a statement on Wednesday evening, argued that the retirement age for the National Assembly remains 40 years of service or 65 years of age, stating that the resolution of the National Assembly which increased the age and years of service has not been amended.
“The attention of the National Assembly Management has been drawn to a press release dated 15th July 2020 signed by the Chairman of the National Assembly Service Commission, informing the general public that the commission has approved the retirement age of staff of the National Assembly as 35 years of service or 60 years of age whichever comes first.
“The Management of the National Assembly wishes to inform all staff and the general public that the extant regulation as contained in our Revised Conditions of Service duly passed by both Chambers of the 8th National Assembly puts the retirement age of staff at 40 years of service and 65 years of age whichever comes first.
“The Resolution of the 8th National Assembly on the Conditions of Service of Staff has not been rescinded nor abdicated by the National Assembly, who under the authentic National Assembly Service Act 2014 as passed is empowered to review any proposed amendment to the Conditions of Service by the Commission.”
“Therefore, the National Assembly Service Commission does NOT have the powers to set aside the Revised Conditions of Service as passed by the 8th National Assembly,”he said.
National Assembly queries embattled clerk
In response, the commission issued a query to the clerk over his failure to retire from service.
The query dated July 16, was signed by the commission head, Mr Amshi.
In the query, Mr Amshi described the clerk’s statement as gross insubordination. He is then was given 24 hours to respond to the query.
Part of the statement reads, “As you are very much aware, the Clerk to the National Assembly is an employee of the National Assembly Service Commission, vide Section 6(1) b of the National Assembly Service Act, 2014 (As amended).
“The Clerk to the National Assembly has no authority whatsoever to dictate anything to the Commission. Your press release is considered by the Commission as gross insubordination to a constituted authority.
“You are, by this letter requested to explain to the Commission within twenty-four (24) hours as to why disciplinary action will not be taken against you as per the provision of Section 6(2)b of the National Assembly Service Act, 2014 (As Amended) for this gross insubordination.”
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