The clerk of the national assembly, Sani Omolori has been forced to retire by the National Assembly Service Commission after a failed bid for his tenu
The clerk of the national assembly, Sani Omolori has been forced to retire by the National Assembly Service Commission after a failed bid for his tenure and other senior management staff to be extended, TheCable is reporting.
In a document signed by Ahmed Amshi, its chairman, the commission also approved the retirement age for national assembly staff as 60 years of age or upon 35 years of service. However, Omolori failed to leave despite being due for retirement.
An illegal plot by the previous assembly saw 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.
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.
“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. Retirement letters would be issued to the affected staff accordingly.”
Folasade Yemi-Esan, head of service (HoS), recently faulted 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.”
But Omolori is fighting back, saying it isn’t yet his time to retire, adding that his continued stay in office is backed by law and cannot be voided by the National Assembly Service Commission. Sani-Omolori said the commission does not have the powers to set aside the revised condition of service passed by the previous assembly.
He directed all staff of the legislative chamber whom the commission asked to proceed on retirement to disregard the directive and “go about their lawful duties”.
“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 amended to the Conditions of Service by the Commission. 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,” Omolori said.
