A group, Concerned Nigerians For Good Conscience, has called for the immediate reversal of Sani Magaji Tambuwal’s appointment as Clerk of the National Assembly.

It described the appointment as a travesty of justice and contrary to National Assembly’s service laws.

Tambuwal’s appointment followed the retirement of Amos Ojo and Bala Yabani, Clerk and Deputy Clerk of Assembly respectively.

The group noted that the next, in line of succession, is Chinedu Akubueze.

A statement signed by National Coordinator of the group, Elder Simon Bako, and released in Awka, Anambra State, yesterday, said: “In a bizarre twist, the National Assembly Service Commission, headed by Ahmed Amshi, went down to the seventh in the line of succession and appointed Tambuwal ahead of his superiors. The rule and tradition was that the highest-ranking staff would succeed the Clerk upon retirement.

The group called on the chairman of the commission to immediately reverse the alleged injustice and allow laid down rules to guide succession.

This came as Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), National Assembly branch, vowed to ensure security for lawmakers and other staff working at the legislative complex.

The move followed alleged influx of political thugs during budget defense and other sessions, leading to harassment of lawmakers.

PASAN chairman, Sunday Sabiyi, promised that the association would take up the issue with the management.

He gave the indication, yesterday, while addressing reporters on activities lined up for PASAN Week, holding November 27 to December 3, 2022.

Stressing that security is everybody’s business, he said: “It has happened to us before. We were coming into the complex when some thugs blocked us. Before we could apprehend them, they ran away.

“We have so many plans to make the National Assembly secure and we believe the new Clerk will agree with us to tackle insecurity.”

He added: “We are also going to enforce the code of dressing in this place. Not only security, because sometimes you see some women dressed almost half naked.” (The Guardian: Text, excluding headline)

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