NASS workers allege bribery in appointing new clerk

Some members of the National Assembly Service Commission have raised the alarm over plots by some individuals to influence the appointment of a new clerk for the commission.

The present clerk, Amos Ojo, appointed in October 2020, will end his tenure on Monday (tomorrow).

Sunday PUNCH gathered that the leadership of the commission would at the meeting discuss modalities for the appointment of a new clerk.

Some of the members who spoke with our correspondent on condition of anonymity for fear of victimisation alleged bribery in the selection.

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One of them said some influential persons were planning to appoint a non-legislative cadre as the new clerk.

The outgoing clerk was accused of attempting to sabotage the process for the appointment of a new clerk.

The source said, “Plans are being hatched ahead of Monday’s meeting of the commission to sway its members to appoint someone from the account department as the new clerk in line with the wishes of some people.  The person apart from not being from the legislative cadre does not have the capacity and experience to take the positions. His role is to oversee the management of funds. But he does not possess the requisite skills to competently run the office of the clerk to the National Assembly.’’

He alleged that funds had been set aside for each commissioner of the National Assembly Service Commission to ensure the appointment of the preferred candidate.

The source added,  “Principally, the job of a Clerk to the National Assembly is that of a chief adviser to both the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives and also to communicate to all state Houses of Assembly on matters relating to the concurrence of the parliament in the tiers of government in Nigeria. This thematic job description cannot be effectively achieved by a non-legislative cadre officer.

In his reaction, Chairman, National Assembly Service Commission, Ahmed Amshi, told Sunday PUNCH described the allegation as untrue. He noted that the commission was ready to do the right thing.

Amshi said, “It (allegation) is not true. We cannot bring anybody from outside. Nobody has bribed anyone. People are just making things up. We want to assure members of the commission that the right thing would be done in selecting a new clerk.”