There is a looming crisis in the National Assembly over alleged abuse of civil service rule in the appointment of key officers running the parliament’s bureaucracy.

The fresh crisis is a fallout of the appointment of key officers to man the top management team of the National Assembly bureaucracy with Mr. Sani Magaji Tambuwal, erstwhile secretary of finance and accounts, appointed as acting Clerk to the National Assembly.

Tambuwal’s appointment is coming after Amos Ojo commenced a compulsory retirement leave last Monday.

A statement by the Chairman of NASC, Ahmed Kadi Amshi, listed other appointees to include Mr. Ogunlana Kamoru who was Secretary of Legal Services, now elevated to the position of acting Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly (DCNA).

Also, Mrs Henrietta Aimua-Ehikioya, former secretary of special duties, now redeployed as secretary of legal services.

Mr. Birma Shuaibu, director, Legislative, is now the acting secretary of the human resources directorate.

Also, Mr. Umoru Barde Ali, director, Pharmacy, has been appointed acting secretary of research and information while Mr Omogbehin Yomi, director, Legislative is now acting secretary, special duties.

According to the statement, Mr. Inyang Clement Titus, director of accounts, is now the acting Secretary of Finance and Accounts.

Mr. Nwoba Andrew, director, Admin is now acting secretary of planning and legislative budget.

“The appointments were sequel to the approval by the Commission of a memorandum presented by the Committee on Establishment, Records and Training to the Commission on the need to fill existing vacancies in the National Assembly Management team.

“The Commission further resolved that the outgoing Clerk to the National Assembly, Arc. Ojo Olatunde Amos continues to work with the acting Clerk to the National Assembly, Sani Magaji Tambuwal until his retirement date of 14th February, 2023 in order to ensure the success of the ongoing 2023 Appropriation Bill’s processing that should be transmitted by only the substantive Clerk to the National Assembly accordance with the provisions of the Authentication Act,” the NASC chairman said in a statement.

However, some aggrieved staff, claimed the appointment did not follow the Civil Service Rule and also ignored the issue of seniority in the appointment of key officers.

For instance, one of the staff said Aimua-Ehikioya who is the most senior staff, was snubbed and a staff from North West, her junior was picked as Clerk.

Similarly, Rawlings Agada, director of information, who is the most senior staff in the directorate, was snubbed and his junior appointed as his boss.

With the appointment of Tambuwal, the North now controls the bureaucracy of the National Assembly.

The chairman of NASC, who was nominated by the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, hails from North East. He was Lawan’s chief of staff until his appointment.

Tambuwal hails from North West. Director-General of National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Professor Abubakar Sulaiman, hails from North Central. (Daily Sun)

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