The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, on Friday, directed the Executive Chairman of the National Assembly Commission (NASC), Engr. Ahmed Kadi Amshi, to recall the outgoing Clerk to the National Assembly, Arc. Ojo Olatunde Amos, from terminal leave over what he described as “inevitable exigencies of this time.”

Lawan in a letter to Amshi, said the services of Ojo are still very much required in view of the 2023 Appropriation Bill being processed by the National Assembly.

He also said that an acting CNA to be appointed needed to be thoroughly ‘tutored’ by Ojo on the workings of the office of the CNA.

The Commission had on Monday directed Ojo to proceed on a three months pre-retirement leave.

On Friday, the Commission announced the appointment of Mr. Sani Magaji Tambuwal as CNA on acting capacity to replace Ojo.

However, Lawan in a letter to the Executive Chairman of the NASC, sighted by our correspondent in Abuja, said Ojo should be recalled to spend his terminal leave in office, since he is the only one that can authenticate the 2023 Appropriation Bill for onward transmission to the President for assent, in line with the provisions of the Acts Authentication Act.

Lawan’s letter with reference number: NASS/9th/S/SP/C/01/13, dated November 17, 2022 and titled: “Commencement of terminal leave and retirement of sitting CNA on 14TH February, 2023” reads: “I write to refer to your letter ref: NASS/PF/SS/1378 dated 14th November 2022 on above caption and draw your attention to the following inevitable exigencies of this time.

“Firstly, the ongoing 2023 Appropriation Bill’s processing that should be transmitted in accordance with the provisions of the Acts Authentication Act by only the substantive Clerk to the National Assembly within the January-December financial year brought to being and sustained by this 9th Assembly.

“Equally, the necessity for a timeous and smooth handing over of the office of the CNA to the incoming CNA who must have been tutored by the outgoing CNA in the workings of the office of the CNA cannot be overemphasized.

“In view of the foregoing and the sufficiency of the pressures from electioneering campaign on Legislative activities, you are requested to reconsider your earlier decision and allow the Clerk to the National Assembly, Arc. Ojo Olatunde Amos to remain in Office during the retirement leave for the Acting Clerk to the National Assembly, when appointed, to work with him until his terminal date of 14th February, 2023; thereby averting the breach of Authentication Act as the highest Law-Making organ in Nigeria.” (The Nation)

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