NASS clerk appointment crisis worsens, workers issue ultimatum

The legitimacy of having two occupants in the Office of the Clerk to the National Assembly is currently the subject of controversial discussion, The PUNCH has learnt.

The National Assembly Service Commission has already been granted one week by federal parliament workers to choose the substantive Clerk for the National Assembly.

Several senior officials of the National Assembly told The PUNCH in different interviews that the crisis would be prolonged by the division created in the bureaucracy allegedly by the NASC, with the appointment of the Secretary of Finance and Accounts, Sani Tambuwal, as the acting Clerk of the National Assembly, when the outgoing Clerk, Amos Ojo, had not retired.

The PUNCH reports that the crisis began when Ojo, who was billed to proceed on a three-month pre-retirement leave on November 14, 2022, and retire from service on February 14, 2023, opted to shelve the terminal leave and remain in service until retirement.

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Later in November, the NASC appointed Tambuwal as Acting Clerk, while the Secretary of Legal Services, Kamoru Ogunlana, was also appointed as the Acting Deputy Clerk.

The Chairman of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, National Assembly chapter, Sunday Sabiyi, faulted the actions of the NASC.

Sabiyi said, “We have never had two clerks. Can you have two captains on a ship? So many clerks have gone on retirement. One clerk went six months before retirement.

“As I previously stated, it is administrative work; they (NASC) are in charge of it. But to us, we know they have violated the Act; they have violated Section 7 of the Constitution, which clearly spells out how clerks should be appointed in the National Assembly. If you check the Civil Service Rules again, you will see it there. You cannot have an acting clerk while the person (departing clerk) is still present. But if that person is on a retirement leave, he should go while another person continues. He should come and hand over when he finally retires.”

On Wednesday night, PASAN issued a seven-day deadline to the NASC to determine the authentic clerk of the National Assembly.

The letter, addressed to NASC Chairman Ahmed Amshi, was signed and dated November 30, 2022, by Secretary-General Awobita Hammed.

The Director of Information for the National Assembly, Rawlings Agada, said the management recognised the powers of the NASC regarding workers.

Asked if there were indeed two clerks at the National Assembly, Agada said, “There cannot be two kings in a palace. Anything that has to do with appointment, promotion, discipline, or condition of service is with the National Assembly Service Commission.

“This issue we are dealing with now, ordinarily, that is how it should be. The commission made the appointment; the President of the Senate or the Speaker does not have the legal authority to issue a clear directive on any issue. Whatever the Senate President said was advisory to the chairman (of NASC). He wrote to the chairman of the commission, stating reasons why he thought the former CNA should be allowed to come in. Is it right or wrong? This is the question we should be asking.”