Retirement Drama: Uncertainty Over Sani-Omolori’s Fate As N’Assembly New Clerk Assumes Office

It’s unclear the fate of former Clerk to the National Assembly, Mr Mohammed Sani-Omolori (now on suspension), as the acting Clerk, Mr Ojo Olatunde, assumes duties.

Findings by THE WHISTLER indicated that Olatunde’s appearance at the office on Wednesday was welcomed by jubilant members of staff, who danced and sang his praises.

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He was named in acting capacity last week by the National Assembly Service Commission amid a retirement power tussle between Sani-Omolori and the Chairman of the NASC, Ahmed Amshi.

A secretariat official at the National Assembly informed THE WHISTLER that Sani-Omolori had weighed two options in the last few days, including going to court to challenge his removal and the retirement of 150 other members of staff of the bureaucracy of the legislature.

The official stated, “You recall that option one was that he tabled the matter before the political leadership of the National Assembly -the Senate President and the Speaker.

“He was hoping they would move in to override the decision of the NASC, but that has not happened till now.

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“The next line of action is that, he is considering going to court. He is a lawyer and his position remains that the revised conditions of service for the National Assembly was passed by the 8th legislature. So, before the law, unless it is overturned by the same National Assembly, he believes that he has a case.”

THE WHISTLER recalls that the bone of contention was the retirement age or length of service of Sani-Omolori and the 150 other legislative civil servants.

The Civil Service Rule provides a retirement age of 60 years or a length of service of 35 years, whichever comes first.

Both Sani-Omolori and the other 150 members of staff met the requirement in February this year and ought to have proceeded on retirement already.

However, they are banking on the revised conditions of service aforementioned, which put the retirement age for National Assembly workers at 65 years or length of service of 40, whichever comes first, to remain office.

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That was the situation until last week when the NASC queried Sani-Omolori for “gross insubordination”, and subsequently placed him on suspension.

Prior to the development, there had also been a media war between Amshi and Sani-Omolori over the retirement controversy.

The former clerk had, in a statement, disputed the position of the NASC that the retirement age remained 60 years.

Sani-Omolori’s statement read, “The attention of the National Assembly Management has been drawn to a Press Release dated 15th July, 2020 signed by the Chairman of the National Assembly Service Commission, informing the general public that the Commission has approved the retirement age of staff of the National Assembly as 35 years of service or 60 years of age whichever comes first.

“The Management of the National Assembly wishes to inform all staff and the general public that the extant regulation as contained in our Revised Conditions of Service duly passed by both Chambers of the 8th National Assembly puts the retirement age of staff at 40 years of service and 65 years of age whichever comes first. The Resolution of the 8th National Assembly on the Conditions of Service of Staff has not been rescinded nor abdicated by the National Assembly, who under the authentic National Assembly Service Act 2014 as passed is empowered to review any proposed amendment to the Conditions of Service by the Commission.”

Challenging the powers of the commission, Sani-Omolori added, “Therefore, the National Assembly Service Commission does not have the powers to set aside the Revised Conditions of Service as passed by the 8th National Assembly.

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“The Management had maintained a studied silence in deference to the leadership of the 9th National Assembly who is looking into the position being canvassed by the Commission. It is therefore intriguing that the National Assembly Service Commission has unilaterally gone ahead to take a ‘decision.’

“Management urges all staff to disregard the press release by the Commission and go about their lawful duties.”

However, on Thursday of the same week, Amshi fired back, telling Sani-Omolori that as an employee of the commission, he had not powers to issue instructions to his employers (NASC.).

“As you are very much aware, the Clerk to the Government National Assembly is an employee of NASC vide Section 6(1)b of the NASC Act 2014 (As amended).

“The Clerk to the National Assembly has no authority whatever to dictate anything to the commission. Your press release is considered as a gross insubordination to a constituted authority”, the commission said.

The clerk was queried to explain within 24 hours why he should not be punished in line with the provisions of the Act.

By Friday, Olatunde was named as his replacement in acting capacity.

The commission also named Mr Bala Mohammed as Acting Deputy Clerk, while Mr Dauda Ibrahim-El-Ladan was appointed Acting Clerk, Senate.

Mr Patrick Giwa was retained as Clerk, House of Representatives, till his retirement from service in November this year.

Another appointment was that of Mr Yusuf Asir-Danbatta, as Acting Secretary to the NASC.

THE WHISTLER made several attempts during the week to get Sani-Omolori to speak on the latest development without success. None of the newspapers enquiries had been replied to as of 5.35pm on Wednesday.

However, armed policemen tightened security at the premises, apparently to forestall a security breach as the new changes were being effected.

One civil servant, who gave his first name as Okewu, told THE WHISTLER in an interview that they hoped a new leadership would address the “myriads of issues” piling up at the National Assembly.

“There are issues, particularly the payment of due entitlements to various categories of workers.

“Generally, there has been tension between the workers and the management over the delayed payment of these entitlements.

“To the workers, any change in the leadership can only make sense if these issues are addressed quickly”, the employee stated.

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