Saraki nullifies appointment of National Assembly clerk

Senate President Bukola Saraki has ordered the immediate reversal of the appointment of an acting clerk of the National Assembly which was announced by the National Assembly Service Commission during the week.
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In a letter titled: “Withdrawal of Letter of Appointment of Acting Clerk Of National Assembly” and addressed to the Chairman of the Commission, Adamu Fika, Saraki stated that the appointment was in breach of due process.

‎The National Assembly Service Commission had on Wednesday appointed the incumbent clerk of the House of Representatives, Muhammed Sani-Omolori, as acting Clerk to the National Assembly.

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Sani-Omolori was appointed to replace the outgoing Clerk to the National Assembly, Salisu Maikasuwa who is scheduled to proceed on terminal leave on May 14, 2016.‎

The appointment of Omolori and the directive against it has further worsened the wrangling and power play within the National Assembly bureaucracy.
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Saraki’s directive for the withdrawal of the letter of appointment – ‎dated April 22, 2016 – was contained in an official letter signed by the Chief of Staff to the Senate President, Isah Galaudu,‎ made it clear that Omolori’s appointment was in violation of the procedure for appointing National Assembly Clerks.

It reads: “We present to you the compliments of the President of the Senate and chairman of the National Assembly, Distinguished Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki. Please recall that during your last meeting with the President of the Senate on April 20, 2016, the procedure of the appointment of the Acting Clerk of the National Assembly was discussed.

The Commission was directed to follow due process and ensure that Seniority is adhered to.”

‎”Of course, Benedict Efeturi, who is deputy clerk of the National Assembly (DCNA) and who has previously acted
as the Clerk of the National Assembly should be the first to be considered”.

It continued: “Most importantly, you have been directed to confer with the President of the Senate on the outcome of the Commission’s meeting before a letter of appointment is issued and regrettably, that did not happen.

The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives were informed that Efeturi was not considered for the appointment because he was not duly appointed as deputy clerk of the National Aasembly.

“On further enquiries, we found out that he was duly appointed by the National Assembly Service Commission.

“Consequently, I am directed by His Excellency, the President of the Senate, to inform you that the letter appointing Sani Omolori as the Acting Clerk of the National Assembly be withdrawn immediately for further consultations”‎.

 

OWEDE AGBAJILEKE