By Chris Udochukwu
Abuja (Precise Post) – Contrary to rumoured news about the removal of the Clerk to the National Assembly (NASS), Mr. Sani Omolori, the management of the Assembly has clarified that Mr. Omolori’s position as the Clerk was not in any way under threat.
The clarification was contained in a statement signed by its Director of Public Affairs, Dr. Yahaya Danzaria.
According to the NASS management, the sustained maneuvers to remove Omolori were orchestrated by some “internal and external” forces that are driven by selfish interests in total disregard for the integrity of the National Assembly as an institution guided by law and independent arm of the government.
According the NASS management, forces working to remove Omolori were rather unfortunately trying to destroy “the gains of the past 21 years of the legislative bureaucracy” in the National Assembly as the Revised Condition of Service on which they were erroneously anchoring their selfish maneuvers was never about an individual but the NASS as an institution.
“It is no longer news that in a bid to lay a strong foundation for sustainable legislative bureaucracy, the National Assembly revised its Conditions of Service for Staff. A process that lasted for over seven years and culminated in a Joint Resolution passed by the 8th National Assembly.
“The aim for revised Conditions of Service is to build institutional memory and develop career progression plan while harnessing the human resources in the legislature. It is also no longer news that though the Revised Conditions of Service has since been activated and it is in force, some forces within and outside the National Assembly are sleepless and unhappy with such creative innovations and progress,” the statement read in part.
Reacting to the role being played by the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC), the statement called for caution on the part of the NASC as their activity may end up ridiculing the legislature as an institution.
It called the attention of the Commission to the laid down rules for removal of the Clerk to the National Assembly which the promoters of the current moves to out Omolori have been observing in the breach. The management, however, assured both staff of the NASS and the general public that the Clerk will continue to do his job in line with the demands of his office.
Part of the press statement read:
“In carrying out its review, the interest of the National Assembly and the legislature as an arm of government should guide the action(s) of the commission and or its privies, agents etc.
The Commission should be guided by its core mandate, due process and rule of law. The present exercise, unfortunately has not reached this irreducible threshold. There is therefore the need for caution and a deep reflection in order not to destroy the reputation and the gains made by National Assembly since the inception of the present democratic order. Rather than destroy, we should consolidate the gains we have made so far.
“The Revised Conditions of Service for the staff which has unfortunately become subject of vicious politics, incendiary comments, and needless controversy was the contribution of the 8th National Assembly to the stability and growth of the National Assembly and the Legislature as an institution. Some of the main actors who gave life to it via the motion they sponsored on the floor of both chambers of the National Assembly are alive and still active in the Legislature.
The ongoing campaign to demonize, rubbish and destroy whatever benefits or contributions of the Revised Conditions of Service to the stability and growth of the legislature just because Omolori is one of the beneficiaries is self serving , unpatriotic and clearly sets a dangerous precedent. The vitriol, bitterness and single minded determination to set it aside in furtherance of the narrow selfish agenda of few powerful interests is most regrettable.
“The Clerk to the National Assembly is not desperate to remain in office at all costs .The office of Clerk is a creation of the constitution and should be immune to ridicule by those who will stop at nothing to foist their inordinate ambition on the National Assembly.
“Even if the forces planning to truncate the implementation of the Revised Conditions of service prevail, retirement of staff will be guided by due process and the rules guiding their engagement.
In the case of the Clerk to the National Assembly, he still has one year left in service. Similarly, other staff being fingered for forceful retirement should serve out their tenure in office based on the terminal date of disengagement.
“Unfortunately, the Vanguard newspaper report is dripping in illegality, impunity and the desperate gambit of overzealous powerful forces who cannot wait to seize and control the bureaucracy of the National Assembly.
The relevant section of NASC Act is clear on the processes required to remove the Clerk to the National Assembly. According to Section 10 of the NASC Act,” A person holding the office of the Clerk to the National Assembly shall only be removed by the commission acting on an address supported by a simple majority of each House of the National Assembly praying that he be so removed for inability to discharge his functions due to infirmity of the mind, body, any other cause or for misconduct.”
“In the absence of any of these infractions and or impairments, it is self evident that the present “crisis” is manufactured and foisted on the National Assembly with the predetermined objective of causing the removal of the present Clerk to the National Assembly. It is self serving and a deliberate attempt to destroy the National Assembly bureaucracy.
“The Clerk to the National Assembly will continue to discharge the functions of his office to the best of his ability.
