War In National Assembly Over Retirements

By GWG Staff

The showdown in the National Assembly between the new National Assembly Service Commission, NASC and the National Assembly management climaxed on Wednesday after the clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Mohammed Sani-Omolori rejected a move by the commission to forcefully retire him.

The clerk of the National Assembly is the head of the National Assembly bureaucracy and has a position equivalent to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.

The powerful Sani-Omolori, a prince of Okene in a memo to all National Assembly staff urged them to disregard a memo from the commission asking all those who have attained 35 years in service or 60 years in age to retire.

The clerk who would have been caught up in the retirement sweep said that the Eight National Assembly had amended the conditions of service of the National Assembly workers to make them serve for 40 years or serve up to 65 years of age.

The war between the management and the commission represents the rivalry between the president of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan and Sani-Omolori.

The chairman of the commission, Engr. Ahmed Amshi was his former legislative aide who he appointed in the position.

Amshi had in a memo on Wednesday following a meeting of the commission said:

“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,” he said.

Sani-Omolori had immediately replied asking the about 160 staff affected by the memo to disregard the instruction.

He said:

“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.

“The Management had maintained a studied silence in deference to the leadership of the 9th National Assembly who is looking into the position being canvassed by the Commission. It is therefore intriguing that the National Assembly Service Commission has unilaterally gone ahead to take a ‘’decision’’.

“Management urges all staff to disregard the press release by the Commission and go about their lawful duties.”

While many see the amendment of the condition of service as self-serving, and directed to perpetuate Sani-Omolori’s tenure, many are also looking at how the National Assembly leadership will go about configuring the new leadership of the assembly.

With the Senate President from the Northeast and his former legislative aide appointed as the chairman of the commission, stakeholders are watching to see who would emerge as clerk after Lawan would have expectedly won the victory over Sani-Omolori.

Senator Joy Emodi had been recommended for the position of the chairman of the National Assembly Service Commission, NASC by the last National Assembly but the Ahmad Lawan leadership upon inauguration upturned it.

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