N’assembly Clerk, 149 Others Sacked Amid Tenure Elongation Impasse

The national assembly commission on Wednesday approved the sacking of clerk of the national assembly, Sani Omolori, and other staff of the legislature.

Omolori’s forceful retirement alongside 149 others, including Secretary of NASC, Olusanya Ajakaiye, was announced in a document signed by the commission’s chairman, Ahmed Amshi.

The agency commission also approved the retirement age for national assembly staff as 60 years of age or upon 35 years of service.

You recalled that Omolori came to the centre of attention after his continued stay as the clerk of the national assembly despite being due for retirement.

Omolori flagrant disregard for the law was encouraged by the previous assembly following the shenanigans of some of its members who amended the conditions of service of the national assembly staff being amended, increasing the requirement of retirement for the staff to 65 years or 40 years of pensionable service.

“Pursuant to its mandate as provided in the National Assembly Service Act 2014 (as amended), the National Assembly Service Commission at its 497th meeting held on Wednesday 15th July 2020 has approved the retirement age of the staff of the National Assembly Service as 35 years of service or 60 years of age whichever comes first,” Amshi said.

“To this effect the commission has approved the immediate retirement of staff of the National Assembly Service who have already attained the retirement age of 35 years of service or 60 years of age.

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“Retirement letters would be issued to the affected staff accordingly.”

A bill tagged the “Retirement age and conditions of service bill”, increased the requirement of retirement for the staff to 65 years or 40 years of pensionable service, contrary to civil service rules.

Sources who were familiar with the situation said the bill was clandestinely approved towards the end of the tenure of the previous assembly despite opposition by many lawmakers, including those now in leadership positions at the two legislative chambers.

Although the amendment covers all staff of the national assembly commission, Omolori and some top officials including Giwa Anonkhai, clerk of the house of representatives and Olusanya Ajakaye, secretary of the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC), were the main beneficiaries.

Omolori, who started his civil service career on February 6, 1985, was due to retire in February, while Ajakaye, who was born on August 19, 1959, was due to retire in August 2019.

Also, Anonkhai, born on November 25, 1960, is due to retire in November.

Folasade Yemi-Esan, head of service (HoS), recently countered the attempt to extend the tenure of the affected national assembly staff through a memo to Senate President Ahmad Lawan and Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker of the house of representatives.

Yemi-Esan had argued that the public service rules provide only “for attainment of 60 years of age or 35 years of service for an officer to retire, whichever comes earlier.”