By Attah Ede
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, has ordered the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) to immediately fish out those management staff due for retirement without any further delay, saying there would be no more room for service extension.
He noted that remaining in office after retirement violates the public service rules.
Senator Akpabio made this remark during a courtesy call on him by the outgoing Chairman and members of the National Assembly Service Commission in Abuja, Monday.
He said there are mixed feelings when capable hands and very experienced hands are leaving offiice but those who are concerned should be excited that they ended well after five years in office.
“Since you are handing over to the Secretary of the Commission, pending the time myself and the Hon Speaker of the House of Representatives, will make recommendations for new Chairman and members, and lapses observed within the last few years must be mentioned.“
One of such lapses is the reluctance on some Clerks, either to the National Assembly, Senate or House of Representatives, to exit office at expiration of their years of service and even lethargy on the part of the commission to ensure enforcement at the appropriate time against such service extension seeking bureaucrats.
“Toleration of such behaviour or acts from the sit-tight bureaucrats by NASC, brought unnecessary politics into the system with attendant factionalization of Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) and threats by some people to take the leadership of the National Assembly to ‘Berekete Radio’ otherwise called Human Rights Radio, forgetting that Nigeria has not established human rights radio.
“Politicisation of tenure or years of service of staff of the National Assembly are due to actions and inactions of NASC which must be stopped by sticking to provisions of letters of appointments.
In the light of this, amendment will be made to the establishment Act of NASC so that its Secretary will work hand in hand with the leadership of the National Assembly for more discipline and effective service delivery in the system,” he said.
The outgoing Chairman of NASC, Engr. Ahmed Kadi Amshi, told the Senate President that he and five out of the six National Commissioners of the commission, will be ending their service on the February 7, 2025, having assumed office on February 7, 2020.
He said the commissioner representing South East in the commission, will remain in office till October 14, 2026 since he was appointed on the October, 15 2021.
