The refusal by the outgone Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA), Amos Olatunde Ojo, to vacate office, despite the announcement of his replacement by the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) is causing ripples.

His action has now thrown up the existence two Clerks to the National Assembly. Almost a fortnight ago, an acting CNA, Mr Magaji Sani Tambuwal, was appointed in an acting capacity.

The anxiety heightened last Tuesday, when Ojo reportedly presided over a meeting by the management of the National Assembly. His refusal has triggered apprehension and protest among staff members of the NASS.

A senior staff in the Clerks office confirmed that the new acting Clerk is yet to resume since Ojo is unwilling to vacate office.

Last Monday, NASC chairman, Ahmed Kadi Amshi, had summoned the outgone CNA, the acting CNA, the acting deputy CNA, security operatives in the National Assembly and Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) representatives to a meeting to discuss the Senate president’s letter for the reconsideration of Ojo’s continued stay in office.

It was gathered that PASAN members and other stakeholders at the meeting rejected Lawan’s letter, arguing that it was strange to the Act establishing the NASC and the service rule and procedure for retirement and succession of officers.

A letter by Ahmad Lawan to the chairman of NASC, Amshi, it was gathered learnt, created the ground work that has disrupted the transition process.

Ojo, who hails from Osun State had “proceeded” on his terminal leave after much ado on November 14 preparatory to his final retirement on February 14, 2023.

But relying on the letter by Lawan, Ojo decided to plot his way back to office.

The letter by the Senate President dated November 17 was a response to the letter of notification of commencement of terminal leave and final retirement of sitting CNA on February 14, 2023 by the chairman of NASC, Amshi dated November 14, 2022.

Lawan had, in the letter drawn the attention of the NASC chairman to what he referred to as some “inevitable exigencies of this time.”

He had cited the ongoing 2023 appropriation bill’s processing that should be transmitted in accordance with the provisions of the Authentication Act by only the substantive Clerk to the National Assembly within the January-December financial year brought to being and sustained by this ninth Assembly; and “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 overemphasised.

“In view of the foregoing and the sufficiency of the pressures from electioneering campaign (sic) on legislative activities, you are requested to reconsider your earlier decision and allow the Clerk to the National Assembly, Architect 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,” part of the letter had read.

But PASAN has written NASC chairman to immediately reject Lawan’s letter and ask Ojo to vacate office without fail. It insisted that the extant laws guiding the activities of the National Assembly, must be followed. They, however, did nt give any deadline within which their demands must be met.

•CSO tackles commission chair over controversy

A Civil Society Organiation (CSO), Centre for Legislative Advocacy and Action (CLAA), has blamed Amshi for the controversy over the retirement of the CNA. Consequently, it demanded for the immediate resignation of the NASC chairman.

The CSO, in a statement by its national coordinator, Tanimu Ahmadu, called on the Senate president to replace Amshi as chairman of NASC in the interest of the legislature.

According to him, “for a National Assembly Service Commission Chairman to be unable to correctly interpret the rules of the civil service is worrying, therefore, the whole confusion that has continued to engulf succession at the National Assembly bureaucracy. This situation if permitted to continue will erode the integrity and sanctity of the commission, hence, our demand that the chairman of the commission to step down.”

He added that it was even more worrying when the Head of Civil Service of the Federation had given “correct interpretation to the rules, yet the chairman believes he must have the final say even when it was outside his purview to do so. We, however, wish to commend the Senate President and Speaker of the House for doing the right thing.

“We call on the Clerk to use this period and tidy up whatever needs to done before February, while he should ensure that the smooth operations of the National Assembly bureaucracy run smoothly.”

(Daily Sun)

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