Clerk of Assembly row: You usurp power of NASS commission- group tells Saraki

By Mohammed Abubakar Abuja

Perfect House of Friends( PHF), a non governmental organization has described  the  senate president directive  to the National Assembly Service  Commission  reversing the  appointment of Alhaji Mohammed Sani- Omolori as Acting Clerk of the National Assembly as a  clear usurpation of the constitutional power of the Commission by senate president.

Reacting to senator Bukola  Saraki's counter directive in a press statement issued over the weekend , PHF President Alhaji Abubakar Mohammed said  Saraki directive  on Friday was  a violation of section 8 of the Act that set up the Commission which confers on it, the power to make appointments,  disciplinary control over persons  without being subjected to the direction or control of any authority or persons. 

Mohammed said that,  a memorandum by the Executive Chairman of the National Assembly Service Commission, Dr. Adamu Mohammed Fika  on  20th April ,2016 on  appointment of  acting clerk to the National Assembly was clear and unambiguous  on those on  eligibility list to be considered for the position of acting clerk between Mr. Benedict Efeturi and Mohammed Sani- Omolori.

"While we are not holding brief for any candidate, we strongly believe  the Commission took the right decision in appointing Omolori in acting capacity and reversing such decision amounts to usurping the commission's power", he said.

"From the record at our disposal, " Both Omolori and Efeturi were appointed in to the clerk cadre on the same date of 25th March , 2010. Mr. Efeturi is due to retire from the service with effect from 2nd November, 2016 and  as provided by law, he will proceed on three months terminal leave on 2nd August , 2016 , meaning that he has less than three months of the terminal leave period of the  Dr.  Salisu A. Maikasuwa to proceed on terminal leave  while Omolori will remain in service till 2021. On 14th August , 2016 when Dr. Maikasuwa will officially perform his handing over, Efeturi is supposed to be observing his compulsory three months terminal leave , a development that informed the decision by the Commission to zero in on Omolori who is most qualified ", said PHF President.

It will be recall that , the senate president on Friday  directed that , the National Assembly Service Commission  to withdraw the letter given  Sani-Omolori’s stating that  his promotion did not follow due process.

He said Mr. Benedict Efeturi who is Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly and who has previously acted as the Clerk of the National Assembly ought to have been “ the first to be considered” for the position.

The Senate President in an April 22 memo titled: “Withdrawal of letter of appointment of Acting Clerk of the National Assembly” to the Executive Chairman, National Assembly Service Commission, Dr. Adamu M. Fika, wondered why the Commission ignored the directive that it should follow due process and ensure that seniority is considered in the appointment of a new clerk of the National Assembly.

Omolori was appointed on Tuesday to replace Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa who is scheduled to proceed on terminal leave on May 14.